NTENSITY-MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY WITH CONCURRENT CHEMOTHERAPY FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate tumour response, acute and late toxicity in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with cisplatin chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: 33 NPC patients, received IMRT concurrently with four to six cycles of cisplatin (30 mg/m2/day) every six weeks between May 2016 and July 2018, were evaluated prospectively. The doses to the planning target volumes of primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, uninvolved regional nodal areas were 70 Gy and 50 Gy respectively. All patients were evaluated for tumour and node response using response evaluation criteria in solid tumour (RECIST) criteri, acute and late toxicities according to CTCAE version 3.0 (common terminology criteria for adverse events), RTOG/EORTC (Toxicity criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer). Results: At three months after chemoradiation, 81.8% and 18.2% of patients achieved complete and partial response, respectively. Grade 3 acute toxicities were oral mucositis (6.1%), dermatitis (3%). Grade 3 late toxicities were xerostomia 2/33(6.1%). There was no grade 3 to grade 4 neck fibrosis and trismus, none of the patients developed mandibular bone necrosis. Conclusion:Cisplatin concurrently with IMRT provided excellent tumour response, manageable toxicities and good compliance. Key words: intensity-modulated radiation therapy, Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy, nasopharyngeal carcinoma