NPC Study : TAX + CIS Neoadjuvant in Patients With Loco Regionally Advanced Undifferentiated Carcinoma of Nasopharyngeal Type (UCNT)

Inclusion criteria

• Written or witnessed oral informed consent prior to beginning specific protocol procedures >Histologically proven undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type (UCNT- stage II-III OMS) at first diagnosis
• Staging of disease: stage III, IV A, IV B (UICC/AJCC, 1997 classification), any T, N2 - N3 UCNT, without metastasis
• Adenopathy > 3 cm
• Patients are required to have an unidimensionally measurable disease with RECIST method
• Performance status 1 or karnofsky index 3
• Previous therapy: Chemotherapy :none Radiation therapy: none Surgery: none
• Laboratory requirements

Exclusion criteria

• Prior chemotherapy or / and radiotherapy
• Metastatic disease (M as per the UCCI/AJC classification)
• Past or current history of neoplasm other than UCNT, except for curatively treated non melanoma skin cancer or in situ carcinoma of the cervix or other cancer,curatively treated and with no evidence of disease at the previous 5 years
• Pregnant, or lacting, patients of childbearing potential must implement adequate contraceptive measures during study participation
• Pre-existing motor or sensory neurotoxicity of a severity 3 grade 2 according to NCI criteria
• Others serious illness or medical condition:

1.Congestive heart failure or unstable angina pectoris even if it is medically controlled 2.Previous history of myocardial infraction within 1 year from study entry 3.Uncontrolled hypertension or high risk uncontrolled arrhythmias 4.Uncontrolled peptic ulcer, unstable diabetes mellitus susceptible to contraindicate any use of corticoids 5.Concomitant treatment with corticoids initiated > 6 months prior to study entry is given to the dose of methylprednisolone or equivalent 3 20 mg 6.Definite contraindications for the use of Corticoids 7.Concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs 8.Participation in another clinical with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to study entry 9.Performance status = 2,3,4 or karnofsky index < 80 10. History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders including psychotic disorders, dementia or seizures that would prohibit the understanding and giving of informed consent

The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.