Chemotherapeutic treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 40 cases

• Published in: British journal of cancer 1993-07, Vol.68 (1), p.191-194
• Main Authors: GEBBIA, V, ZERILLO, G, CANNATA, G, CIMINO, A, GEBBIA, N, RESTIVO, G, SPECIALE, R, CUPIDO, G, LO BUE, P, INGRIA, F, GALLINA, S, SPATAFORA, G, TESTA, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bleomycin - administration & dosage; Carcinoma - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; Chemotherapy; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Cisplatin - therapeutic use; Female; Fluorouracil - administration & dosage; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leucovorin - administration & dosage; Male; Medical sciences; Methotrexate - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - surgery; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1993.312

Authors carried out a review of 40 cases of recurrent and/or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy at the Division of Othorhinolaryngology and the Service of Chemotherapy of the University of Palermo between July 1984 and July 1992. All patients were treated with regimens comprising high dose cisplatin (80-100 mg m-2). Histologically there were 29 squamous cell and 11 undifferentiated NPC. Thirty-nine patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. The overall response rate was 64%, with a 20.5% complete response rate and a 43.5% partial response rate. The mean duration of complete responses was 10.2+months, while that of partial responses was 8.6+months. The mean survival of the whole group was 11.4+months, with four patients alive after 2 years of follow-up. No statistically significant difference in response rate and survival was found between patients with metastatic disease and those with locoregional recurrency, and between patients with squamous cell NPC and those with undifferentiated histology. The employed regimens have been generally well tolerated. These data confirm that NPC is a neoplasm highly responsive to chemotherapy. However, duration of objective response and survival are still largely unsatisfactory.