AIM:To provide efficacy and safety data about the combined use of radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).METHODS:We reviewed data of 40 patients with locally advanced NPC treated with ind...AIM:To provide efficacy and safety data about the combined use of radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).METHODS:We reviewed data of 40 patients with locally advanced NPC treated with induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy(CCRT)(22/40 patients)or CCRT alone(18/40)from March 2006 to March 2012.Patients underwent fiberoscopy with biopsy of the primitive tumor,and computed tomography scan of head,neck,chest and abdomen with and without contrast.Cisplatin was used both as induction and as concomitant chemotherapy,while 3D conformal radiation therapy was delivered to the nasopharynx and relevant anatomic regions(total dose,70 Gy).The treatment was performed using 6 MV photons of the linear accelerator administered in 2 Gy daily fraction for five days weekly.This retrospective analysis was approved by the review boards of the participating institutions.Patients gave their consent to treatment and to anonymous analysis of clinical data.RESULTS:Thirty-three patients were males and 7 were females.Median follow-up time was 58 mo(range,1-92 mo).In the sub-group of twenty patients with a follow-up time longer than 36 mo,the 3-year survival and disease free survival rates were 85%and 75%,respectively.Overall response rate both in patients treated with induction chemotherapy followed by CCRT and in those treated with CCRT alone was 100%.Grade 3 neutropenia was the most frequent acute side-effect and it occurred in 20 patients.Grade 2 mucositis was seen in 29 patients,while grade 2 xerostomia was seen in 30 patients.Overall toxicity was manageable and it did not cause any significant treatment delay.In the whole sample population,long term toxicity included grade 2 xerostomia in 22 patients,grade 1 dysgeusia in 17 patients and grade 1 subcutaneous fibrosis in 30 patients.CONCLUSION:Both CCRT and induction chemotherapy followed by CCRT showed excellent activity in locally advanced NPC.The role of adjuvant chemotherapy remains to be defined.展开更多
Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a widespread malignant tumor,it is particularly frequent in Southeast Asia.Although T1 tumors can be effectively controlled with exclusive radiotherapy,this treatment modality ...Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a widespread malignant tumor,it is particularly frequent in Southeast Asia.Although T1 tumors can be effectively controlled with exclusive radiotherapy,this treatment modality is insufficient for most NPC patients,who present with locally advanced disease at diagnosis.In fact,for stages ranging from T2b N0 to T4 N3,definitive scientific evidence supports the use of concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy with standard external beam radiotherapy.This treatment approach has shown a statistically significant advantage in terms of overall survival,with respect to radiotherapy alone.Several trials have also investigated the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy.Platinum compounds,anthracyclines and taxanes are among the chemotherapy agents employed.This review focuses on the clinical results obtained in the field of adjuvant/concurrent/neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced NPC,for which exclusive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy currently represents the standard treatment approach.展开更多
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in western countries, accounting for less than 1% of all malignancies. Despite prognosis is satisfactory for newly diagnosed, non-metastatic disease, management of recurrent disease is...Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in western countries, accounting for less than 1% of all malignancies. Despite prognosis is satisfactory for newly diagnosed, non-metastatic disease, management of recurrent disease is challenging, with a survival expectancy of approximately 6 mo with the use of chemotherapy as the sole salvage treatment. We report a case of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery in the context of a multidisciplinary approach. A durable complete response was achieved.展开更多
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma(ATC)is the rarest,but deadliest histologic type among thyroid malignancies,with a dismal median survival of 3-9 mo.Even though ATC accounts for less than 2%of all thyroid tumors,it is resp...Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma(ATC)is the rarest,but deadliest histologic type among thyroid malignancies,with a dismal median survival of 3-9 mo.Even though ATC accounts for less than 2%of all thyroid tumors,it is responsible for 14%-39%of thyroid carcinoma-related deaths.ATC clinically presents as a rapidly growing mass in the neck,associated with dyspnoea,dysphagia and vocal cord paralysis.It is usually locally advanced and often metastatic at initial presentation.For operable diseases,the combination of radical surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy,using agents such as doxorubicin and cisplatin,is the best treatment strategy.Cytotoxic drugs for advanced/metastatic ATC are poorly effective.On the other hand,targeted agents might represent a viable therapeutic option.Axitinib,combretastatin A4,sorafenib and imatinib have been tested in small clinical trials of ATC,with a promising disease control rate ranging from 33%to 75%.Other clinical trials of targeted therapy for thyroid carcinoma are currently ongoing.Biological agents that are under investigation include pazopanib,gefitinib and everolimus.With the very limited therapeutic armamentarium available at the present time,targeted therapy constitutes an exciting new horizon for ATC.In future,biological agents will probably represent the standard of care for this aggressive malignancy,in the same fashion as it has recently occurred for other chemo-refractory tumors,such as kidney and hepatic cancer.展开更多
文摘AIM:To provide efficacy and safety data about the combined use of radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).METHODS:We reviewed data of 40 patients with locally advanced NPC treated with induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy(CCRT)(22/40 patients)or CCRT alone(18/40)from March 2006 to March 2012.Patients underwent fiberoscopy with biopsy of the primitive tumor,and computed tomography scan of head,neck,chest and abdomen with and without contrast.Cisplatin was used both as induction and as concomitant chemotherapy,while 3D conformal radiation therapy was delivered to the nasopharynx and relevant anatomic regions(total dose,70 Gy).The treatment was performed using 6 MV photons of the linear accelerator administered in 2 Gy daily fraction for five days weekly.This retrospective analysis was approved by the review boards of the participating institutions.Patients gave their consent to treatment and to anonymous analysis of clinical data.RESULTS:Thirty-three patients were males and 7 were females.Median follow-up time was 58 mo(range,1-92 mo).In the sub-group of twenty patients with a follow-up time longer than 36 mo,the 3-year survival and disease free survival rates were 85%and 75%,respectively.Overall response rate both in patients treated with induction chemotherapy followed by CCRT and in those treated with CCRT alone was 100%.Grade 3 neutropenia was the most frequent acute side-effect and it occurred in 20 patients.Grade 2 mucositis was seen in 29 patients,while grade 2 xerostomia was seen in 30 patients.Overall toxicity was manageable and it did not cause any significant treatment delay.In the whole sample population,long term toxicity included grade 2 xerostomia in 22 patients,grade 1 dysgeusia in 17 patients and grade 1 subcutaneous fibrosis in 30 patients.CONCLUSION:Both CCRT and induction chemotherapy followed by CCRT showed excellent activity in locally advanced NPC.The role of adjuvant chemotherapy remains to be defined.
文摘Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a widespread malignant tumor,it is particularly frequent in Southeast Asia.Although T1 tumors can be effectively controlled with exclusive radiotherapy,this treatment modality is insufficient for most NPC patients,who present with locally advanced disease at diagnosis.In fact,for stages ranging from T2b N0 to T4 N3,definitive scientific evidence supports the use of concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy with standard external beam radiotherapy.This treatment approach has shown a statistically significant advantage in terms of overall survival,with respect to radiotherapy alone.Several trials have also investigated the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy.Platinum compounds,anthracyclines and taxanes are among the chemotherapy agents employed.This review focuses on the clinical results obtained in the field of adjuvant/concurrent/neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced NPC,for which exclusive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy currently represents the standard treatment approach.
文摘Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in western countries, accounting for less than 1% of all malignancies. Despite prognosis is satisfactory for newly diagnosed, non-metastatic disease, management of recurrent disease is challenging, with a survival expectancy of approximately 6 mo with the use of chemotherapy as the sole salvage treatment. We report a case of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery in the context of a multidisciplinary approach. A durable complete response was achieved.
文摘Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma(ATC)is the rarest,but deadliest histologic type among thyroid malignancies,with a dismal median survival of 3-9 mo.Even though ATC accounts for less than 2%of all thyroid tumors,it is responsible for 14%-39%of thyroid carcinoma-related deaths.ATC clinically presents as a rapidly growing mass in the neck,associated with dyspnoea,dysphagia and vocal cord paralysis.It is usually locally advanced and often metastatic at initial presentation.For operable diseases,the combination of radical surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy,using agents such as doxorubicin and cisplatin,is the best treatment strategy.Cytotoxic drugs for advanced/metastatic ATC are poorly effective.On the other hand,targeted agents might represent a viable therapeutic option.Axitinib,combretastatin A4,sorafenib and imatinib have been tested in small clinical trials of ATC,with a promising disease control rate ranging from 33%to 75%.Other clinical trials of targeted therapy for thyroid carcinoma are currently ongoing.Biological agents that are under investigation include pazopanib,gefitinib and everolimus.With the very limited therapeutic armamentarium available at the present time,targeted therapy constitutes an exciting new horizon for ATC.In future,biological agents will probably represent the standard of care for this aggressive malignancy,in the same fashion as it has recently occurred for other chemo-refractory tumors,such as kidney and hepatic cancer.
