Locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy and concurrent cisplatin: a phase II study.
BACKGROUND
Chemoradiotherapy is the current standard of care for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of induction chemotherapy (CHT) followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy in this patient population.


METHODS
In this single-arm, phase II study, patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with 3 cycles of induction CHT with cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) on day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m(2) continuous infusion on days 1-4) followed by 3 cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m(2) on days 1, 22 and 43) and concurrent radiotherapy up to 70 Gy. The primary endpoint was objective response.


RESULTS
Thirty-four patients were enrolled, and all completed both induction treatment and subsequent chemoradiotherapy. Objective response rates were 79.4% (95% CI 62.1-91.3) and 85.3% (95% CI 68.9-95.0) after induction CHT and chemoradiation, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated and toxicity was manageable. At a median follow-up of 29 months, 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates are 80.0% (95% CI 0.64-0.95) and 54.0% (95% CI 0.36-0.73), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Induction CHT with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy is a feasible and active regimen for patients with stage IIB-IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This regimen resulted in excellent locoregional disease control and overall survival.
Ferrari
D
D
Division of Medical Oncology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy. daris.ferrari@ao-sanpaolo.it
Chiesa
F
F
Codecà
C
C
Calabrese
L
L
Jereczek-Fossa
B A
BA
Alterio
D
D
Fiore
J
J
Luciani
A
A
Floriani
I
I
Orecchia
R
R
Foa
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil