title: Efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemoradiation using cisplatin-based regimens has become the standard care in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancers. The impact of taxanes as radiosensitizing agents with concurrent chemoradiation regimens is unknown. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of weekly cisplatin + docetaxel combination with chemoradiation in locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers (59.5% stage IV, 23.3% stage III, and 16.7% stage II) were assessed retrospectively. Total radiation dose to the planning target volume of gross disease (primary and/or node) was 70 Gy/35 fractions, 5 fractions per week. Minimum doses of 60 Gy and 50 Gy were administered to planning target volume of elective high-risk and low-risk disease, respectively. Chemotherapy consisted of weekly cisplatin (20 mg/m(2)) + docetaxel (20 mg/m(2)) concurrently with radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the patients was 46.5 years (range, 17-79). Objective response rate was 86%. The 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 65.4% and 91.3%, respectively. The most common grade 3 and 4 toxicities were mucositis (48%), nausea (22%), neutropenia (12%), dermatitis (5%), fatigue (5%) and weight loss (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly cisplatin and docetaxel concurrent with radiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers was found tolerable with a high efficacy.
authors: Meltem
authors: M
authors: Baykara
authors: Suleyman
authors: S
authors: Buyukberber
authors: Banu
authors: B
authors: Ozturk
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Coskun
authors: Muhammet Ali
authors: MA
authors: Kaplan
authors: Diclehan Kilic
authors: DK
authors: Unsal
authors: Faysal
authors: F
authors: Dane
authors: Umut
authors: U
authors: Demirci
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Bora
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Benekli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000209:etiology; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin