[Long-term efficacy of induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy on advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy may prolong disease-free and overall survival of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. This study was to compare the long-term efficacy of induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy and radiotherapy alone on advanced NPC.


METHODS
Clinical data of 535 advanced NPC patients, treated in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 1997 to Dec. 1998, were analyzed. Of the 535 patients, 75 were treated with 3-5 cycles of induction and concomitant chemotherapy of PF regimen (cisplatin combined 5-fluorouracil) plus radiotherapy, 460 were treated with radiotherapy alone. The survival statuses of the 2 groups were compared. Prognostic factors were analyzed by Cox regression analysis. Cumulative survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.


RESULTS
The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were significantly higher in radiochemotherapy group than in radiotherapy group (78.15% vs. 55.27%, 71.55% vs. 48.99%, P<0.05). For the patients with stage III tumors, the median overall and disease-free survival term were significantly longer in radiochemotherapy group than in radiotherapy group (94.5 months vs. 85.1 months, 89.5 months vs. 82.9 months, P<0.05). For the patients with stage IVa tumors, the same results were obtained (82.4 months vs. 44.4 months, 69.6 months vs. 40.3 months, P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that clinical stage and chemotherapy were dependent prognostic factors of advanced NPC.


CONCLUSIONS
Induction chemotherapy plus concurrent radiochemotherapy could prolong the survival of patients with advanced NPC.
Liang
Ying
Y
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, PR China.
Gao
Jian-Ming
JM
Hu
Wei-Han
WH
Gao
Yuan-Hong
YH
Xie
Fang-Yun
FY
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil