Chemotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma - Current Recommendation and Controversies

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2015 Dec;29(6):1107-22. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2015.07.004. Epub 2015 Oct 20.

Abstract

Radiotherapy is the primary treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and combination chemotherapy can enhance treatment outcomes for locoregionally advanced disease. The Intergroup 0099 study using concurrent-adjuvant cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy was the first trial to demonstrate a survival benefit. Since then, there have been attempts to further improve the treatment results by altering the chemotherapy sequence, using different chemotherapeutic agents or schedules, and extending the use of chemotherapy to early-stage disease. This review provides an overview of the data and highlights the current controversies behind international guidelines.

Keywords: Chemoradiotherapy; Meta-analysis; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Randomized trial; Therapeutic benefit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome