Clinical study of radiotherapy combined with paclitaxel chemotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in treatment of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods From January 2005 to May 2006,60 patients with pathologically comfirmed nasopharyngeal low differentiated squamous cell carcinoma at T4N2～3M0 stage according to 92 Fuzhou staging system were randomly allocated into concurrent chemotherapy-radiotherapy group(30 patients)and radiotherapy group(30 patients).The concurrent chemotherapy-radiotherapy group received paclitaxel 60mg once a week for 7 weeks,similar dose and fractionation of radiotherapy was administered in both groups.Results Complete response rate of the concurrent chemotherapy-radiotherapy group and radiotherapy group three months after treatment were 93.3% and 86.7%,respectively(P0.05).The 1,2,3-year local control rates were 93.3%,86.7%,66.7% and 90.9%,63.3%,43.3%,respectively.The 1,2,3-year survival rates were 96.7%,83.3%,76.7% and 86.7%,66.7%,53.3%,respectively.There were statistically significant differences between the two groups.Leucopenia and gastrointestinal toxicity were more severe in concurrent chemotherapy-radiotherapy group than in radiotherapy group(P0.05),but did not affect radiotherapy.Conclusion Concurrent chemotherapy-radiotherapy can increase the survival rates and decrease the distant metastasis in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.