A phase II clinical trial of concurrent helical tomotherapy plus cetuximab followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: The present clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of concurrent helical tomotherapy (HT) with cetuximab followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin (TP) in the treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This phase II clinical trial included 43 patients with Stage III/IV LANC (33 Stage III and 10 Stage IV). The treatment consisted of concurrent HT with cetuximab (400 mg/m2 loading dose and weekly 250mg/m2), followed by four cycles of chemotherapy [docetaxel (70 mg/m2 on Day 1) and cisplatin (40 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 2 every 3 weeks). Side effects were evaluated with CTCAE criteria (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 3.0). Results: The median follow-up duration was 48.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 41.7-58.0 months], the 2-year locoregional failure-free rate (LFFR), progression-free survival (PFS), distant failure-free rate (DFFR) and overall survival (OS) were 95.2%, 79.1%, 88.1% and 93.0% respectively; the 3-year LFFR, DFFR, PFS and OS were 92.7%, 85.6%, 72.0% and 85.7% respectively. The most common grade 3 toxicities were oropharyngeal mucositis (81.4%) and RT-related dermatitis (7.0%). No patients had more than grade 3 radiation related toxicities and no patients required nasogastric feeding. One patient experienced grade 3 osteonecrosis at 18 months after treatment. Conclusions: Concurrent HT with cetuximab followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with TP is an effective strategy for the treatment of LANC with encouraging survival rates and minimal side effects.