Article
Hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
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Published: | September 7, 2006 |
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Background: The excellent results of hyperfractionated and accelerated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in locally advanced oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas lead to the investigation of this therapeutic regime in nasopharyngeal carcinomas as well.
Methods: 39 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas in stage III and IV received accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy (5-FU, mitomycin C and leucovorin). Primary tumour and regional lymph nodes received 5 x 2 Gy/fr/week during the first three weeks. Thereafter the treatment was accelerated with two daily fractions of 1.4 Gy to a total dose of 72 Gy.
Results: The overall response rate was 100%. The mean follow-up period was 76.2 months. In ten patients salvage surgery of the lymph nodes was performed revealing vital tumour in six cases. The 5 years-overall survival rate was 70+/-8%.
Conclusion: The hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinomas is effective and feasible.