Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Versus Radiotherapy Alone for Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of concurrent radiochemotherapy with those of radiotherapy intreating locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Stage III~IVa).
Methods: A total of 95 patients sufferingfrom 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 conventionalfractionated 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 werehigher than those of Group RT (Ⅹ2=4.72~7.19, P<0.05). The one-year overall survival (OS) rate calculated bythe 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, the5-year OS and metastasis-free rates of Group CCRT were higher than those of Group RT and the differenceswere of statistical importance (Ⅹ2=3.96~8.26, P﹤0.05). However, acute toxicity was also obviously higher, thedifference in gastrointestinal reactions being statistically significant (Ⅹ2=11.70, P<0.05).
Conclusion: This studydemonstrated that concurrent radiochemotherapy could improve the remission rate, overall survival rate andlocally control rate. The toxicity of concurrent radiochemotherapy could be tolerated by the patients.