Chemotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal cancer

Chemotherapy is an integral part of treatment for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Chemotherapy can achieve long-term survival rates of up to 15% to 20%, even in patients with recurrent or metastatic disease. In the majority of studies reported, patients with previously untreated locally advanced stage III and IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma showed improved local control, decreased systemic metastasis, and improved disease-free and overall survival when treated with cisplatin (Platinol)-based combination chemotherapy in conjunction with radiotherapy. In prospective, randomized, phase III trials, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, significantly improved local control, systemic control, and progression-free and overall survival. The authors believe that different sequences of treatment modalities and newer chemotherapy agents need to be investigated in the future.