Observation of the efficacy and safety of concurrent intensity-modulated radiation with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of concurrent intensity-modulated radiotherapy in combination with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin for patients diagnosed with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total 66 patients with a newly diagnosed and previously treated locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: the control group receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (n=33) and the observation group receiving intensity-modulated radiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (n=33). Short-term efficacy, 6-month survival rate, recurrence rate, and distant metastasis rate of tumours were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, the incidence of treatment-related adverse reactions including nausea and vomiting, thrombocytopenia, hepatorenal syndrome, peripheral neuritis, and oral mucosa reaction was recorded.

RESULTS

The overall efficacy rate of short-term treatment in the observation group was 96.97 %, compared to 93.94 % in the control group, indicating no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). There were no significant differences observed between the two groups in terms of 6-month survival rate, recurrence rate, and distant metastasis rate (p>0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions during treatment was 21.21 % in the observation group, which was significantly lower than that of 45.45 % in the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Concurrent intensity-modulated radiation therapy with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin may achieve similar short-term outcomes as the standard regimen of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with the added benefit of reduced toxicity.