Long-term outcome and pattern of failure for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Abstract

To analyze the long-term outcome and pattern of failure for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Patients with NPC after IMRT from 2001 to 2008 were recruited (n = 865). Clinical features, laboratory data, and treatments were collected. The 10-year local recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 92.0%, 83.4%, and 78.6%, respectively. A total of 209 patients died: 59% of whom died from distant metastasis. The 10-year DSS was higher in patients who received chemoradiotherapy than those who received IMRT alone for patients with high-risk stage III disease, while there was no survival difference for patients with stage II and low-risk stage III disease. IMRT provides satisfactory long-term survival for patients with NPC. Distant metastasis has been the most common reason for failure. Adding chemotherapy did not improve survival in patients with stage II and low-risk stage III disease.