Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy with Daily Low Dose Intra-arterial Cisplatin Plus 5-Fluorouracil for Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Cancer

N Kohno, Y Ohno, S Kitahara, E Tamura, T Tanabe, Y Murata, M Kawaida
Correspondence: Prof Naoyuki Kohno, sukohno@kyorin-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT
This study aims to treat locally-advanced nasopharyngeal cancer by concurrent conventional irradiation at 2.0 Gy/day five days per week up to a total dose of 68 Gy, and daily intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin 3 mg/m2 plus 24 hours intravenous drip infusion of 5-fluorouracil 150 mg/m2 per day, five days per week. All of five enrolled patients completed the schedule, and treatment compliance was considered to be identical. Of the five patients evaluable for response, four with complete response (80%) and one with partial response (20%), with an overall response rate of 100% was achieved. The median survival time was 26 months. Two-year survival of the patients was 80%. This regimen showed marginal mucositis but well tolerated. We concluded that this treatment option is safe and effective for the locally-advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.

Keywords: chemoradiotherapy, low dose intra-arterial cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer
Singapore Med J 2003; 44(8): 410-413