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[Long-term efficacy of radiotherapy on children with nasopharyngeal carcinoma]
Ka-Jia Cao1, Yin Li, Pei-Yu Huang
1Department of Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510 060, P.R. China. caokajia@163.com
Insights
Pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment efficacy was analyzed. Clinical stage, biopsy method, radiation dose, and short-term response significantly impact outcomes for children with NPC.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Clinical Research
Context:
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in children presents a unique challenge with a generally poor prognosis.
- Understanding long-term outcomes is crucial for improving treatment strategies in pediatric oncology.
Purpose:
- To analyze the long-term treatment efficacy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in pediatric patients.
- To identify factors influencing the prognosis of childhood NPC.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 47 children (7-14 years) with NPC treated with radiotherapy between 1975-1995.
- Key prognostic factors identified include clinical stage, biopsy method, nasopharyngeal radiation dose, and short-term treatment efficacy.
- Long-term survival rates were 72.3% (1-year), 53.2% (3-year), and 40.4% (5-year).
Impact:
- Clinical stage, biopsy method, radiation dose, and short-term efficacy are significant predictors of long-term survival in pediatric NPC.
- The study highlights the importance of considering radiation-induced long-term sequelae in childhood NPC survivors.
Background & Objective:
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in children is a particular type of NPC with poor prognosis. This study was to analyze long-term treatment efficacy, and relevant factors influencing prognosis of NPC in children.
Methods:
From Jan. 1975 to Dec. 1995, 47 children,7-14 years old, with NPC diagnosed by pathology received radiotherapy in our hospital. Radiation doses were 52-74 Gy/6-13 weeks [(64.68+/-5.68) Gy] in nasopharynx, and 46-73 Gy/5-13 weeks [(57.77+/-5.86) Gy] in neck; 21 received 1-3 cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin, bleomycin, 5-fluoroucil, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide) before radiotherapy. Survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and analyzed by log-rank test with SPSS 10.0 software.
Results:
The 1, 3, 5-year survival rates of 47 patients were 72.3%, 53.2%, and 40.4%, respectively. Clinical stage (P=0.046), mode of biopsy (P=0.024), radiation dose in nasopharynx (P=0.049), and short-term efficacy (P=0.005) correlated with prognosis of these patients. The average height of 15 male children with NPC who survived for more than 5 years was (161.5+/-1.23) cm. Among 3 female children with NPC who survived for more than 5 years, 2 had menstruation disturbance.
Conclusions:
Clinical stage, mode of biopsy, radiation dose in nasopharynx, short-term efficacy may influence prognosis of NPC in children. Radiation-induced long-term sequelae of NPC in children should not be overlooked.