Combined treatment in carcinoma of the nasopharynx

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Laryngoscope; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1288/00005537-198808000-00018· OSTI ID:6923865

Souhami, L; Rabinowits, M

From October 1982 to August 1984, 30 previously untreated patients with biopsy-proven carcinoma of the nasopharynx, stage III (26.5%) and stage IV (73.5%), received combined radiotherapy (6,000 to 7,000 cGy over a period of 7 to 7.5 weeks) and chemotherapy (mitomycin-C 10 mg/M2, IV; 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/M2, IV; and methotrexate 30 mg/M2, IV) concomitantly. There were 20 males and 10 females, with a median age of 40 years. Minimal follow-up duration was 24 months. Actuarial overall survival rate at 48 months was 49%. Complete local response was achieved in 75% of the patients, with 31% of the cases failing distantly. The complication rate was high and included severe mucositis, xerostomia, and septicemia (fatal in two cases). Despite high local disease control, survival rate did not increase. A randomized trial is urgently needed to establish whether or not combined treatment is of value in advanced carcinoma of the nasopharynx.

• Research Organization: McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6923865
• Journal Information: Laryngoscope; (United States), Journal Name: Laryngoscope; (United States) Vol. 98:8; ISSN LARYA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIMETABOLITES
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS
AZINES
BODY
CARCINOMAS
COMBINED THERAPY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DRUGS
FLUOROURACILS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METHOTREXATE
MITOMYCIN
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATIENTS
PHARYNX
PYRIMIDINES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SURVIVAL CURVES
THERAPY
URACILS