Comparison of efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus docetaxil, cisplatin, plus fluorouracil in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

• Published in: Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences 2024-03, Vol.37 (2), p.377
• Main Authors: Rehman, Abdul, Haider, Ghulam, Ramchand, Akash, Anaum, -, Nawaz Khan, Shumaila, Mahar, Faiza, Mahmood, Raheela, Saher, Sana, Khattak, Yasir Rehman, Aqeel, Muhammad Arsalan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvant treatment; Adolescent; Adult; Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Cancer; Care and treatment; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Cisplatin - therapeutic use; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Deoxycytidine - therapeutic use; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Female; Fluorouracil - administration & dosage; Fluorouracil - therapeutic use; Gemcitabine; Humans; Male; Methods; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal cancer; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma - drug therapy; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma - pathology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Patient compliance; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1011-601X
• DOI: 10.36721/PJPS.2024.37.2.REG.377-383.1

Induction followed by concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is the standard of care for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). This study evaluated and compared the efficacy of two regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy along with CCRT in LANPC. Patients with LANPC were randomly divided in Group I (receiving neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin) and Group II (receiving neoadjuvant docetaxil, cisplatin and fluorouracil). Both groups also received concurrent single agent (i.e., cisplatin) chemotherapy and radiotherapy (70Gy). Treatment response was assessed at 8 weeks after the completion of CCRT using RECIST criteria. A total of 68 LANPC patients were enrolled. Group I comprised of 32 patients, with male to female ratio of 2.2, a mean (range, median) age of 38.6±11.3 (19-58, 36) years. Group II comprised of 36 patients, with male to female ratio of 3.5, mean (range, median) age of 40.9 ±11.6 (17-63, 40) years. The complete response was higher whereas the partial response was lower in Group I as compared to Group II (23/32 versus 16/36 and 06/32 versus 18/36, respectively). LANPC patients receiving gemcitabine plus cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed higher response, as compared with docetaxil, cisplatin and fluorouracil based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.