Using Helical Tomotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Shueng Pei-Wei, Shen Bing-Jie, Wu Le-Jung, Liao Li-Jen, Hsiao Chi-Huang, Lin Yu-Chin, Cheng Po-Wen, Lo Wu-Chia, Jen Yee-Min, Hsieh Chen-Hsi
Primary Institution: Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Hypothesis
To evaluate the experience of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation with helical tomotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Conclusion
Helical tomotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma is feasible and effective, showing high compliance and locoregional control.
Supporting Evidence
- The response rates for primary and nodal disease after induction chemotherapy were 96.4% and 80.8%, respectively.
- The estimated 3-year overall survival was 83.5%.
- Acute grade 3, 4 toxicities for xerostomia and dermatitis were only 3.6% and 10.7%, respectively.
Takeaway
Doctors used a special type of radiation therapy called helical tomotherapy to treat patients with a throat cancer called nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and it worked really well.
Methodology
28 patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma received induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation with helical tomotherapy.
Potential Biases
Inherent biases typical of retrospective studies.
Limitations
The study was retrospective, had a small sample size, and lacked in-house comparable results.
Participant Demographics
22 men and 6 women with a median age of 47.5 years; most had WHO type III pathology.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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