title: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical effects of concurrent radiochemotherapy with those of radiotherapy in treating locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Stage III~IVa).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 95 patients suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Stage III~IVa) were divided into two groups: concurrent radiochemotherapy (Group CCRT, n=49) and radiotherapy (Group RT, n=46). The two groups were both delivered conventional fractionated radiotherapy, while Group CCRT also received three cycles of PF (DDP+5-Fu) or PLF (DDP+5- Fu+CF) chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complete remission rate and total remission rate of Group CCRT were higher than those of Group RT (X2=4.72~7.19, P<0.05). The one-year overall survival (OS) rate calculated by the life table method, was also higher than that of Group RT (X2=4.24, P<0.05) as well as the 3-year OS rate, nasopharyngeal control rate and cervical lymph nodes' control rate (X2=4.28~4.40, P<0.05). In addition, the 5-year OS and metastasis-free rates of Group CCRT were higher than those of Group RT and the differences were of statistical importance (X2=3.96~8.26, P<0.05). However, acute toxicity was also obviously higher, the difference in gastrointestinal reactions being statistically significant (X2=11.70, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that concurrent radiochemotherapy could improve the remission rate, overall survival rate and locally control rate. The toxicity of concurrent radiochemotherapy could be tolerated by the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China. hongshengyucn@126.com
authors.forename: Hong-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ai-Qin
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult