title: Induction chemotherapy with carboplatin and taxol followed by radiotherapy and concurrent weekly carboplatin + taxol in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study was the clinical evaluation of carboplatin-taxol combination in a neoadjuvant and concomitant setting with conventional radiotherapy in loco-regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (A-NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were treated with three cycles of carboplatin (AUC6) plus taxol (175 mg/m(2)) on day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by weekly carboplatin (AUC1) plus Taxol (60 mg/m2) and concomitant radiotherapy (70 Gy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed the objective complete response rates of 33% (after chemotherapy) and 87% (after chemo-radiotherapy). Treatment tolerability and toxicity were controllable. Three- and five-year progression-free survival were 80 and 75%, respectively, and 3- and 5-year overall survival were 85 and 80% (follow-up 49.5 months). Five-year loco-regional control was 90.3%, and five-year distant metastases-free survival was 85%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with such protocol represents a feasible, efficient treatment for patients with A-NPC, ensuring excellent loco-regional disease control and overall survival with low incidence of distant metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garzaro
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raimondo
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedani
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beatrice
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pecorari
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel