Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Dosimetric Determinants of Locoregional Failure in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated with Definitive
Maryam Kalantari Khandani1, Seyed Alireza Javadinia2, Masoumeh Nouri1,3
1Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Purpose:
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a significant head and neck malignancy with rising incidence globally. Despite recent advances in the treatment of NPC, particularly introduction of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in its management, locoregional recurrence remains a major challenge, impacting patient survival and quality of life. This study evaluates the five-year locoregional failure rates and recurrence patterns in NPC patients treated with IMRT with or without Concomitant Chemotherapy.
Methods:
A historical cohort of 65 NPC patients treated at Shohadai-e-Tajrish Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2017 to 2019, was analyzed. All patients received definitive IMRT, with a median follow-up of five years. Recurrence patterns were classified as in-field, marginal or out-field recurrences, based on dosimetric parameters. Statistical analyses assessed recurrence associations with clinical and dosimetric factors at the significant level of p<0.05.
Results:
Of the 61 patients, 31.2% experienced recurrence including 18.03% with locoregional failure and 13.1% with distant metastasis. Among locoregional recurrences, 60% were in-field, 30% marginal, and 10% out-field. Mean dosimetric values for high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk clinical target volumes were 68.3 Gy, 58.65 Gy, and 51.66 Gy, respectively.
Conclusion:
Locoregional failures in NPC remain a significant clinical issue, with in-field recurrences being the most common. Strategies like dose escalation, functional imaging-guided radiation, and improved clinical target volume delineation are essential to enhance treatment outcomes and reduce recurrence rates. Further research into individualized treatment approaches and long-term toxicity data is needed to optimize patient care.
