Clinical study of concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for N_2,N_3 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the value of chemotherapy with radiotherapy in N 2,N 3 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Eighty six cases with N 2,N 3 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomized into two groups:chemoradiotherapy(A) and radiotherapy alone(B).Both of two groups received radiotherapy with 60 Co r ray which was delivered with conventional fractionation,a radical dose with 68 70 Gy/6.8～7w in nasopharynx and 60 76 Gy/6～7.6w in neck.Group A received two cycles of the chemotherapy with CF,5 Fu and DDP in the first and the fifth week of radiotherapy.Results The primary tumor control rates of group A and group B at 3 and 5 year were 67.4% to 44.2%( P 0.05)and 55.9% to37.2( P 0.05) respectively.The cervical lymph node control rates at 3 and 5 year were 65.1% to 41.9%( P 0.05)and 58.1% to37.2%( P 0.05),and the distant metastatic rates were 20.9% to 41.9( P 0.05) and 27.9% to 48.9%( P 0.05) respectively.The 3 and 5 year survial rates were 58.1 % to 34.9%( P 0.05),and 46.5% to 25.6%( P 0.05).Conclusion Radiotherapy with chemotherapy can increase the survival rates and decrease the distant mestasis in patients with N 2,N 3 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma.