Induction chemotherapy with carboplatin and taxol followed by radiotherapy and concurrent weekly carboplatin + taxol in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE: Aim of this study was the clinical evaluation of carboplatin-taxol combination in a neoadjuvant and concomitant setting with conventional radiotherapy in loco-regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (A-NPC). METHODS: Thirty patients were treated with three cycles of carboplatin (AUC6) plus taxol (175 mg/m(2)) on day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by weekly carboplatin (AUC1) plus Taxol (60 mg/m2) and concomitant radiotherapy (70 Gy). RESULTS: We observed the objective complete response rates of 33% (after chemotherapy) and 87% (after chemo-radiotherapy). Treatment tolerability and toxicity were controllable. Three- and five-year progression-free survival were 80 and 75%, respectively, and 3- and 5-year overall survival were 85 and 80% (follow-up 49.5 months). Five-year loco-regional control was 90.3%, and five-year distant metastases-free survival was 85%. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with such protocol represents a feasible, efficient treatment for patients with A-NPC, ensuring excellent loco-regional disease control and overall survival with low incidence of distant metastases.