J Korean Soc Ther Radiol Oncol.  2001 Mar;19(1):10-15.

Results of Radiation Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Cancer

• Cho MJ
• Jang JY
• Kim JS
• Kim BK
• Song CJ
• Kim JS

Abstract

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From September 1989 to October 1996, 19 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma completed planned radiation therapy course. Stages were I in 2 patients, II in 6, III in 2 IV in 9 patients, respectively. Pathology was squamous cell carcinoma in 5 patients, undifferentiated cell carcinoma in 14 patients. Fourteen patients were treated with radiation therapy only. Five patients received chemotherapy. The follow-up period ranged from 5 months to 115 months with a median of 33 months. Follow-up was possible in all patients.
RESULTS
Responses to radiation therapy were complete response in 15 patients, partial response in 2, and no response in 2, respectively. Patterns of failure were as follows : locoregional recurrence in 6 patients and distant metastasis in 4 patients. The sites of distant metastasis were bone, liver and lung. Five year survival rate was 47.8% and five year disease free survival rate was 48.1%. Stage, T-stage, N-stage, central nervous system involvement, pathology type, performance status, response, radiation dose, chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors.
CONCLUSION
5-year survival rate was 47.8% and 5-year disease free survival rate was 48.1%. The advances in radiation therapy techniques and chemotherapy are needed.

Keyword

Nasopharyngeal cancer; Radiation therapy

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Central Nervous System
Disease-Free Survival
Drug Therapy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Liver
Lung
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pathology
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate