Cycle number of neoadjuvant chemotherapy might influence survival of patients with T1-4N2-3M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Stage N2-3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) shows a high risk of distant metastasis, which will finally cause death. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) of various cycles before radical radiotherapy on distant metastasis and survival of patients with stage N2-3 diseases.

Methods

In this study, a total of 1,164 consecutive patients with non-metastatic N2-3 NPC were recruited and prospectively observed. Then 231 patients who received NACT of 4 cycles (NACT=4 group) were matched 1:2:1 to 462 patients treated with NACT of 2 cycles (NACT=2 group) and 231 patients treated without NACT (NACT=0 group), according to age, histological subtype, N stage and NACT regimen. Five candidate variables (sex, T stage, concurrent chemotherapy, inten

SUBMITTER: Wei J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5842233 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature