Accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Wolden, S. L.; Zelefsky, M. J.; Kraus, D. H.; Rosenzweig, K. E.; Chong, L. M.; Shaha, A. R.; Zhang, H.; Harrison, L. B.; Shah, J. P.; Pfister, D. G.
Article Title: Accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of concomitant boost radiotherapy (RT) plus cisplatin-based chemotherapy compared with standard fractionation RT for patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer. Patients and Methods: From 1988 through 1999, 50 patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II-IVb nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with 70-Gy concomitant boost RT (1.8 Gy/d, weeks 1 through 6; 1.6 Gy second daily fraction, weeks 5 through 6) and two cycles of concurrent cisplatin 100 mg/m2 days 1 and 22. Thirty-seven patients also received three cycles of cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. These 50 patients were compared with a non-randomized cohort of 51 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer treated with 70-Gy standard fractionation RT (1.8 Gy/d) without chemotherapy from 1988 through 1995. The groups were well matched for prognostic factors except stage, for which the concomitant boost RT/chemotherapy group was more advanced (54%, T3-4; 54%, N2-3; 44%, stage IV) compared with the standard RT group (31%, T3-4, P = .03; 22%, N2-3, P < .001; 20%, stage IV, P < .01). Results: With a median follow-up of 42 months (range, 12 to 129 months), the 3-year actuarial local control, progression-free survival, and survival rates were 89% v 74% (P < .01), 66% v 54% (P = .01), and 84% v 71% (P = .04) for the concomitant boost RT/chemotherapy group and the standard RT patients, respectively. Acute grade 3 mucositis was more prevalent with combined therapy, 84% v 43% (P < .001), resulting in a higher rate of temporary gastrostomy tube placement, 46% v 20% (P < .01). Conclusion: Concomitant boost RT with cisplatin-based chemotherapy is feasible and improves local-regional control as well as survival for patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer compared with standard RT alone. © 2001 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; clinical article; controlled study; treatment outcome; aged; disease-free survival; middle aged; survival analysis; survival rate; major clinical study; clinical trial; cisplatin; fluorouracil; advanced cancer; drug efficacy; multimodality cancer therapy; radiation dose; chemotherapy, adjuvant; combined modality therapy; cancer staging; follow up; neoplasm staging; carboplatin; controlled clinical trial; blood toxicity; mucosa inflammation; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; radiotherapy dosage; radiation injury; feasibility studies; nasopharynx carcinoma; nasopharyngeal neoplasms; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 2001-02-15
Start Page: 1105
End Page: 1110
Language: English
PUBMED: 11181675
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Michael J Zelefsky
    754 Zelefsky
  2. Dennis Kraus
    268 Kraus
  3. Ashok R Shaha
    698 Shaha
  4. Suzanne L Wolden
    560 Wolden
  5. Lanceford Chong
    12 Chong
  6. David G Pfister
    389 Pfister
  7. Jatin P Shah
    722 Shah
  8. Haige   Zhang
    2 Zhang
  9. Louis B Harrison
    123 Harrison