Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy versus Radiation Alone in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2002;18(1):30-35.
Published online May 30, 2002.

Jin hong Park;Hye sook Chang;Sung Bae Kim;Sang Yoon Kim;Soon Yuhl Nam;Kyung Ja Cho;Jong Hoon Kim;Seung Do Ahn;Young Ju Noh;Eun Kyung Choi;Sang wook Lee

비인강암에서 동시 항암방사선치료와 방사선치료 단독의 비교 연구

박진홍;장혜숙;김성배;김상윤;남순열;조경자;김종훈;안승도;노영주;최은경;이상욱

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and toxicity of chemoradiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by comparing with radiation therapy alone. Materials and Methods: Between October 1989 and July 2000, One hundred eleven patients with newly diagnosed and histologically proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-five patients were treated with radiation therapy alone (Group I) and 66 patients were treated with radiation therapy and concurrent cisplatin (Group II). Cisplatin was administered once a week, on the first day of each successive week of treatment, starting on day 1 of radiation therapy and given as a intravenous bolus at a dose of 20mg/m 2 of body-surface area. Radiation therapy was given in doses of 1.8Gy, once a day, 5 days per week with 4MV or 6 MV photons. Initial field was received a total of 60Gy and a primary tumor and enlarged lymph nodes were boosted with an high dose intracavitory brachytherapy and 3D conformal therapy.
Results
The complete response rate was 86.7% in Group I, and was 90.9% in Group II. The 5 year overall survival rate for Group I was 60% and for Group II was 45% (p=0.2520). The 5 year disease free survival rate was 52% versus 45%, respectively (p=0.7507). The median follow up was 44 months versus 34 months, respectively.
Conclusion
Analysis of the III patients showed no significant difference in disease free survival and overall survival in two treatment group. This retrospective analysis did not demonstrate benefit with concurrent chemoradiation using cisplatin at a dose of 20mg/m 2 of body-surface area in treatment result than radiation alone.

Key Words: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy