[Clinical study of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy combined with DDP and vindesine].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the result of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

From August 1996 to October 1997, 64 cases of advanced NPC (stage N2-N3) patients were randomized to receive radiotherapy (RT) alone or RT combined with 2 cycles of chemeotherapy (CT) (cisplatin, vindesine). Thirty two patients were assigned to CT + RT, and 32 to RT alone.

RESULTS

At 40 Gy of RT the response rate was 28.1% in RT group and 43.8% in CT + RT group. The response rate at 3 months after RT was 75.0% in RT group and 84.4% in CT + RT group (P < 0.05). The major toxic effects were gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppession and alopecia.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy with cisplatin and vindesine before and after radiotherapy increases the response rate of advanced NPC with lymph node metastases.