Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in subgroups of stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the context of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
Methods
A total of 272 patients with stage III NPC who underwent IMRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological features were evaluated by a Cox regression model to identify independent prognostic factors. Survival outcomes were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test.
Results
The median follow-up time was 108 months. The 10-year locoregional-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were 87.8%, 80.7%, 68.8%, and 74.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the N classification was significantly associated with DMFS (hazard ratio [HR] 3.616, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.387–9.428, P = 0.009), DFS (HR 2.417, 95% CI 1.291–4.423, P = 0.006), and OS (HR 3.024, 95% CI 1.385–6.602, P = 0.005). In patients with T1-3N2 disease, CCRT was associated with improved 10-year LRFS (89.6% vs. 65.4%, P = 0.005), DFS (71.9% vs. 39.4% P = 0.001) and OS (80.0% vs. 50.5%, P = 0.004) compared with IMRT alone. However, in patients with T3N0-1 disease, no significant survival differences were observed between patients treated with IMRT alone and CCRT (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
CCRT is an effective therapy in stage III NPC, especially for patients with N2 disease, but IMRT alone may be adequate for N0-1 disease. Individualized treatment strategies are essential for patients with varying disease risks.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging,Oncology
Reference18 articles.
1. Chen YP, Chan ATC, Le QT, Blanchard P, Sun Y, Ma J. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Lancet. 2019;394(10192):64–80.
2. Su SF, Han F, Zhao C, Chen CY, Xiao WW, Li JX, et al. Long-term outcomes of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy alone. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;82(1):327–33.
3. Pan JJ, Ng WT, Zong JF, Chan LL, O’Sullivan B, Lin SJ, et al. Proposal for the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC staging system for nasopharyngeal cancer in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Cancer. 2016;122(4):546–58.
4. Pfister DG, Spencer S, Adelstein D, Adkins D, Brizel DM, Bruce JY, et al. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) Head and Neck Cancers. Version 3. 2021.
5. Lee N, Xia P, Quivey JM, Sultanem K, Poon I, Akazawa C, et al. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an update of the UCSF experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002;53(1):12–22.