Excellent disease control and survival in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer treated with chemoradiation.

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy and safety of epirubicin, cisplatin, and infusional fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy followed by radiation with concurrent cisplatin in patients with locally and/or regionally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-five patients were treated with three cycles of induction chemotherapy with epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) combined with continuous-infusion 5-FU 200 mg/m(2) daily for 9 weeks, followed by concurrent chemoradiation of 60 Gy in 2-Gy fractions with cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days in weeks 1 and 6.

RESULTS

Median age was 43 years, 74% had World Health Organization type III histology, and 91% had stage IV disease (International Union Against Cancer, ed 4). All patients received three cycles of induction chemotherapy, and 97% completed chemoradiation. The estimated 4-year progression-free survival rate was 81% (95% CI, 59% to 93%), and the estimated 4-year overall survival rate was 90% (95% CI, 74% to 97%). Only two patients have had a locoregional relapse by the close-out date despite the use of only 60 Gy. Induction chemotherapy was well tolerated, with 11% grade 3 or 4 stomatitis, 26% grade 3 vomiting, and no episodes of febrile neutropenia. Acute toxicities of chemoradiation were as follows: 23% grade 3 or 4 vomiting, 6% febrile neutropenia, 31% grade 3 mucositis, and 23% grade 3 skin toxicity. The most prevalent grade 3 late effects were xerostomia and hearing loss.

CONCLUSION

This regimen was well tolerated, can be delivered as planned, and has resulted in excellent locoregional disease control and survival in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.