Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a neoadjuvant gemcitabine and nedaplatin regimen followed by radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a neoadjuvant gemcitabine and nedaplatin chemotherapy regimen, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Eighty-six patients with stage III, IVA or IVB NPC, who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy [gemcitabine, 1,000 mg/m 2 on day 1 (d1) and d5; nedaplatin, 25 mg/m 2 on d 1-3] every 3 weeks for at least two cycles, followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy every 3 weeks, with or without concurrent nedaplatin (25 mg/m 2, d1-3) between September 2010 and December 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. By comparing pretreatment and post-treatment MRI images, it was shown that seven patients achieved a complete response (8.5%), while 66 achieved a partial response (80.5%), following completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (combined response rate, 89.0%). Grade 3-4 toxicities following neoadjuvant chemotherapy included neutropenia (29.1%), leukopenia (11.6%), liver dysfunction (9.3%), thrombocytopenia (9.3%) and nausea/vomiting (8.1%). The median follow-up was 18 months (range, 5-44 months). The 2-year relapse-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 96.6, 85.4, 83.3 and 96.1%, respectively. Compared with alternative neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens in combination with radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the present gemcitabine and nedaplatin did not provide additional survival benefit and led to a higher frequency of liver dysfunction. Therefore, neoadjuvant gemcitabine and nedaplatin should be used with caution in locoregionally advanced NPC.