The Role of Induction Chemotherapy for High-risk Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in the Era of IMRT

Meta-analysis showed chemotherapy when combined with conventional radiotherapy in locally advanced naso-pharyngeal carcinoma can improve 5-year overall survival with 6%, and beyond all concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin benefits most. However, from Lin's (Lin JC, 2004) study, locally advanced NPC with high risk factors can not benefit from conventional concurrent chemoradiation. Failure pattern analysis revealed that local and distant failure accounted for 50% respectively. Large-scale data has demonstrated that with IMRT, local control can achieve 90%. Previous studies showed inductive chemotherapy can decrease distant metastasis. We need more effective and stronger chemotherapy, and we still need to testify concurrent chemotherapy combined with inductive chemotherapy.

A prospective trial would thus provide valuable information to help physicians and patients more precisely identify the feasibility and effectiveness of inductive + concurrent chemotherapy combined with IMRT for high-risk locally advanced NPC.

Inclusion criteria

• biopsy-proved NPC
• N3 or T4N2 or multiple lymphnodes involved with at least one mass 4 cm or more in maximal diameter according to 7th UICC Staging
• provide written informed consent
• Kps>70
• no dostant metastasis
• Life expectancy≥6 months
• Adequate renal function, defined as follows: Serum creatinine < 2 x institutional upper limitof normal(ULN) within 2 weeks prior to registration or; creatinine clearance rate (CCr) ≥ 50 ml/min within 2 weeks prior to registration determined by 24- hour collection or estimated by Cockcroft-Gault formula: CCr male = [(140 - age) x (wt in kg)] [(Serum Cr mg/dl) x (72)] CCr female = 0.85 x (CCrmale)
• The following assessments are required within 2 weeks prior to the start of registration: Na, K, Cl, glucose, Ca, Mg, and albumin.

Exclusion criteria

• Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 3 years; noninvasive cancers (For example, carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, or cervix are all permissible) are permitted even if diagnosed and treated < 3 years ago
• Prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields
• Severe, active co-morbidity