Abstract:

Objective To compare the efficacy and side effects of untreated locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma by TP induction chemotherapy regimen or PF regimen. Methods The locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were randomly divided into group A（n=30， TP regimen： docetaxel 75 mg／m2 d1，cisplatin 75 mg／m2 d2， 21 days as a cycle） and group B（n=29，PF regimen： cisplatin 75 mg／m2 d1， fluorouracil 750 mg／m2 civ d1d5， 21 days as a cycle）. After induction chemotherapy for three cycles， all patients underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Chemotherapy was taken as follow： cisplatin 80 mg／m2 d1， 21 days as a cycle. The radiotherapy dosage was 2.0 Gy per fraction，5 fractions a week，for 6 weeks，and total dosage was 60 Gy. The efficacy was evaluated and the survival was followed-up. Results There were no significant differences in the objective response rate （76.7％ vs. 79.3％， P＞0.05） and overall survival （39.4 months vs. 36.0 months， P＞0.05） between the two groups. But the progressionfree survival of group A was longer than group B （12.7 months vs.10.3 months， P=0.044）. The main side effects in two groups were hematologic toxicities and mucosities with no statistical difference（P＞0.05）. Conclusion TP and PF induction chemotherapy combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy had equal clinical efficacy in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. TP induction chemotherapy can be a viable alternative treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.