Long-term clinical outcome of combined therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastasis / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate long-term efficacy of microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with cervical lymph node metastasis. Methods A total of 154 patients with stage N2 or N3 NPC ('92 staging system) were randomized into two groupsmicrowave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy (Group A, 76 cases) and chemoradiotherapy alone (Group B, 78 cases). Both of the two groups received 1 -2 cycles of chemotherapy of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, followed by conventional radiotherapy of 70 - 78 Gy in 35 - 39 fraction to the nasopharynx and 68 -72 Gy in 34 - 36 fractions to the neck. Group A received microwave hyperthermia to the metastatic cervical nodes at the beginning of radiotherapy. The hyperthermia was given as 45 min every time, twice a week for 8 - 14 times totally. Results The 5-year complete response rates of cervical lymph nodes in group A and B were 97% and 77% (x2 = 14. 24,P<0. 01). The distant metastasis rates in the two groups were 37% and 44% (x2 = 0. 73, P > 0. 05). The disease-free survival rates were 51% and 21% (x2 = 15.91, P <0. 01). The 5-year overall survival rates were 59% and 41%, respectively (x2 = 5.09, P < 0. 05).Conclusions For patients with stage N2 or N3 NPC, microwave hyperthermia combined with chemoradiotherapy can improve the complete response, disease-free survival and overall survival.