Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for ascending or descending types of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective study.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and NACT plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Data from 603 patients with ascending (T4 and N0-1) or descending (T1-2&N3) NPC who were treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between October 2009 and February 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: NACT+IMRT (n = 302) and NACT+CCRT (n = 301). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), which was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, Cox proportional hazards model, and landmark analysis. In univariate analysis, there was no significant difference in 5-year OS between the NACT+IMRT and NACT+CCRT groups (hazard ration [HR]: 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47-1.01; P = 0.057). However, after adjustment for age (<45 years, ≥45 years), gender, histological stage (I/II, III), T stage (1/2, 3, 4), and N stage (0/1, 2/3), NACT+IMRT was more effective in improving OS, with a 33% decrease in the risk of death than NACT+CCRT (HR: 0.67; 95%CI: 0.45-0.99). Furthermore, landmark analysis indicated that patients in the NACT+IMRT group had higher OS rates within 24 months (HR: 1.83; 95%CI: 1.00-3.34), whereas those treated with NACT+CCRT had higher OS rates after 24 months (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.29-0.77). We also found significant survival benefits of NACT+IMRT regimen in patients younger than 45 years old (HR: 0.27; 95%CI: 0.14-0.49), and in those at stage T3 (HR: 0.50; 95%CI: 0.27-0.93) and stage N2/3 (HR: 0.52; 95%CI: 0.32-0.83). Patients with ascending or descending NPC who are treated with NACT+IMRT may have better long-term survival outcomes than those treated with NACT+CCRT, especially the patients younger than 45 years old or in stage T3/N2/N3. Additionally, NACT+IMRT may be a better option than NACT+CCRT in patients within the first 24 months.

Lin Q ，Lu L ，Wang X ，Lin Y ，Chen Y ，Chen H ，Chen S ，Lin S ，Zhang Y ，Zheng P ，Chen X ... -  《-》

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective controlled study.

Qiu WZ ，Huang PY ，Shi JL ，Xia HQ ，Zhao C ，Cao KJ ... -  《-》

Neoadjuvant and Concurrent Chemotherapy Have Varied Impacts on the Prognosis of Patients with the Ascending and Descending Types of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy.

Yao JJ ，Zhou GQ ，Zhang F ，Zhang WJ ，Lin L ，Tang LL ，Mao YP ，Ma J ，Sun Y ... -  《PLoS One》

Neoadjuvant or Adjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Concurrent CRT Versus Concurrent CRT Alone in the Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Study Based on EBV DNA.

Liu LT ，Chen QY ，Tang LQ ，Guo SS ，Guo L ，Mo HY ，Li Y ，Tang QN ，Sun XS ，Liang YJ ，Zhao C ，Guo X ，Qian CN ，Zeng MS ，Bei JX ，Hong MH ，Shao JY ，Sun Y ，Ma J ，Mai HQ ... -  《-》

Comparing treatment outcomes of different chemotherapy sequences during intensity modulated radiotherapy for advanced N-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Sun X ，Zeng L ，Chen C ，Huang Y ，Han F ，Xiao W ，Liu S ，Lu T ... -  《Radiation Oncology》