title: Definitive treatment of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Report of 5 cases with review of literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To review the treatment outcomes of patients presenting to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 1999 to April 2008, 5 patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma initially presenting with distant metastasis underwent chemotherapy and definitive radiation therapy at our institution. Each patient received platinum-based chemotherapy concurrently with definitive radiotherapy to the primary region and subsequent consolidation radiotherapy to distant metastases. In addition, 2 patients received induction chemotherapy (cisplatin, fluorouracil), and 3 others received adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin, fluorouracil).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5 patients initially presenting to our institution with M1 disease, 2 have no evidence of disease as of their last follow-up (29 and 91 months). The remaining 3 patients had progression of disease within 12 months of the start of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term disease-free survival is possible in a select group of patients with M1 disease at presentation treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and definitive radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Setton
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolden
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caria
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil