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Recent perspectives in the role of chemotherapy in the management of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Ma Brigette B. Y.,
Chan Anthony T. C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.20768
Subject(s) - medicine , nasopharyngeal carcinoma , oncology , chemotherapy , gemcitabine , radiation therapy , stage (stratigraphy) , intensive care medicine , paleontology , biology
BACKGROUND Recent advances in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have transpired into better treatment outcomes for patients with locoregionally advanced NPC, and have broadened the chemotherapeutic options for patients with metastatic disease. METHODS Data for this review were identified through searches of articles published in PubMed, MEDLINE, and abstracts from selected conference proceedings up to 2004. RESULTS The results of two meta‐analyses and at least six randomized trials supported a survival benefit with the use of concurrent chemotherapy (e.g., platinum, tegafur‐uracil [UFT)] and standard fractionated radiotherapy (with or without adjuvant chemotherapy) in the management of patients with locoregionally advanced NPC (nonmetastatic Stage III/IV disease, according to the staging system of the International Union Against Cancer). For those patients with metastatic NPC, platinum‐based doublets using newer agents such as gemcitabine and the taxanes are reported to be better tolerated and can yield response rates comparable to those obtained with older, multidrug regimens. CONCLUSIONS The current study reviewed the latest literature and pertinent issues concerning the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic and locoregionally advanced NPC. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.