[Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)-radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Between July 1977 and October 1983, 40 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by radiation therapy. From the investigation of this series, prophylactic treatment for distant metastases was recommended for good prognosis. Between November 1983 and May 1985, 10 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated using a combination of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) and radiation therapy. Treatment results showed complete response in all 10 patients. One patient failed in the out field of boost therapy after whole-neck irradiation. This patient has shown no distant metastases. The remaining 9 patients have been controlled well. Major side effects were renal toxicity, and nausea and vomiting, which were mostly transient. However, severe mucositis of the oral cavity was observed in 4 patients (40%) of the CDDP-radiation group in contrast with 3 patients (8%) of the radiation-therapy-only group (p less than 0.01).