The Value of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Stage II Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Clinical Stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma consisted of T2N0M0, T1N1M0, T2N1M0 three subgroups, the data came from conventional radiotherapy era showed that the prognosis of this three subgroups were different, the N1 groups suffered more distant metastasis than N0 group, and some literature showed that combined chemotherapy with radiotherapy in stage II patients can improve the treatment results.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)now is an widely used technique in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the preliminary results showed that IMRT can improve the quality of life in nasopharyngeal through salivary gland preservation.

Compared IMRT alone with IMRT plus cisplatin concurrent chemotherapy in the treatment of stageII nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we hope to confirm whether stage II (and which subgroup) nasopharyngeal carcinoma will be benefit from concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Inclusion criteria

• pathological confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, WHO II-III type,
• clinical stage II (UICC 7th edition, 2009)
• Karnovsky performance score > 70
• first course of radiotherapy, without radiotherapy and chemotherapy history for other head and neck cancer.
• anticipated life span more than 6 month
• Hemoglobin > 120g/L, WBC > 4.0x10*9/L, Plt > 100x10*9/L
• liver and renal function under the 1.25 normal upper limit
• with written consent information

Exclusion criteria

• have other cancer history
• have chemotherapy history
• have radiotherapy history
• have head and neck surgery history(exclusion lymph node biopsy)
• evidence showed distant metastasis or other cancer
• other severe medical comorbidity