Prolonged complete remission after induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation with tomotherapy in metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is uncommon in the Western hemisphere and in Europe. The undifferentiated subtype has a relevant propensity to metastasize systemically, mostly in the skeleton. In patients with distant metastasis at presentation there is no consensus on the most appropriate approach.

CASE REPORT

Evaluation of a young patient with initially bony metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer treated with platinum-based induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (performed with Tomotherapy) combined to chemotherapy on primary region with curative intent, and subsequent focal irradiation of the bone metastasis.

CONCLUSION

After 27 months from the end of the planned treatment the patient has not shown any late toxicity or complications in the treated areas and is without any evidence of progression. It seems appropriate to treat selected metastatic patients with a radical intent, using induction chemotherapy followed by radical chemoradiotherapy on the primary region and high dose radiation on the metastasis. Moreover, Tomotherapy demonstrated a tolerable grade of acute toxicity without any relevant late complications.