Neoadjuvant Vs Concurrent Chemotherapy Addition to Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Carcinoma Nasopharynx: Analysis of Survival & Failure Patterns

摘要

Locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer necessitates the use of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy foroptimal benefit. The current recommendation is to treat patients with stage IIB-IVB disease with concurrentchemoradiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival outcome difference betweenconcurrent chemoradiation and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Between January 2000 and December 2007,45 patients of nasopharyngeal cancer (stage IIB-IVB) were treated with curative intent in the DepartmentofRadiotherapy. 23 patients receivedneoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical radiotherapy and 22patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The study cohort included 35 males and 10 femalessuffering from locally advanced carcinoma nasopharynx. Median age of the group was 52 years (range19-76 years). 2-year failure free survival in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy arm was 62% versus 38%in the neoadjuvant group (log rank p=0.197). Statistically significant difference was not observed in termsof failure free survival between the concurrent and neoadjuvant group.