Prognostic aspects in the treatment of juvenile nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review.
To systematically review and discuss the published data about treatments and outcomes for children and adolescents affected by nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In April 2015, an appropriate string was run on PubMed to retrieve all relevant articles. A cross-check was performed by two of the authors on abstracts and full-text articles found using the selected inclusion and exclusion criteria. A meta-analysis concerning the rate of reported disease-free survival and overall survival was performed. Fifteen studies were identified comprising a total of 865 subjects affected by nasopharyngeal carcinoma. According to the American Joint Committee for Cancer Staging system, the majority of tumors were classified as Stage IV (57.3 %). All included patients underwent radiotherapy, while 687 (79.4 %) received also some regimen of chemotherapy. On the basis of our statistical analysis, the mean (95 % CI) rate of disease-free survival was 66 % (95 % CI 56-76). The mean (95 % CI) rate of the overall survival resulted 68 % (95 % CI 58-78). On the basis of our analysis, it may be affirmed that the prognosis of juvenile nasopharyngeal carcinoma is still unsatisfactory. New reports on homogeneous populations are needed to better define the most influencing prognostic factors and to evaluate the introduction of possible alternative therapeutic protocols.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Umberto I University General Hospital, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60020, Ancona, Italy. giox83@hotmail.com.
Federico Maria
FM
Gioacchini
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Umberto I University General Hospital, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60020, Ancona, Italy.
Michele
M
Tulli
Department of Diagnostic Medicine, Clinical and Public Health, University Hospital of Modena, Ancona, Italy.
Shaniko
S
Kaleci
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics "G. Ferreri", University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Magliulo
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Umberto I University General Hospital, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60020, Ancona, Italy.
Massimo
M
Re
D000293:Adolescent; D002277:Carcinoma; D002648:Child; D019468:Disease Management; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Chemotherapy; Children; Disease free; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Overall survival; Radiotherapy; Survival