Background: Little is known about the nature of metaistasis to small cervical lymph nodes(SCLNS) in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)examined by using 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose(^(18)F-FDG) positron emiss...Background: Little is known about the nature of metaistasis to small cervical lymph nodes(SCLNS) in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)examined by using 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose(^(18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT).The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic values of PET/CT in identifying metastasis in SCLNs in NPC patients.Methods: Magnetic resonance images(MRI) and PET/CT scans for 470 patients with newly diagnosed, non-distant metastatic NPC were analyzed. Metastatic rates of SCLNs were defined by the positive number of SCLNs on PET/CT scans and total number of SCLNs on MRI scans. Receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to compare PET/CT-determined stage with MRI-determined stage.Results: In total, 2082 SCLNs were identified, with 808(38.8%) ≥ 5 and < 6 mm in diameter(group A), 526(25.3%)≥ 6 and < 7 mm in diameter(group B),374(18.0%)≥ 7 and < 8 mm in diameter(group C), 237(11.4%) ≥8 and<9 mm in diameter(group D),and 137(6.5%) ≥ 9 and <10 mm in diameter(group E).The overall metastatic rates examined by using PET/CT for groups A, B,C,D, and E were 3.5%, 8.0%, 31.3%, 60.0%, and 83.9%, respectively(P< 0.001). In level IV/Vb, the metastatic rate for nodes ≥ 8 mm was 84.6%. PET/CT examination resulted in modification of N category and overall stage for 135(28.7%) and 46(9.8%) patients, respectively. The areas under curve of MRIdetermined and PET/CT-determined overall stage were 0.659 and 0.704 for predicting overall survival, 0.661 and 0.711 for predicting distant metastasis-free survival, and 0.636 and 0.663 for predicting disease-free survival.Conclusions: PET/CT was more effective than MRI in identifying metastatic SCLNs, and the radiologic diagnostic criteria for metastatic lymph nodes in level IV/Vb should be re-defined.展开更多
Background: The prognostic values of staging parameters require continual re?assessment amid changes in diag?nostic and therapeutic methods. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors and failure patterns of ...Background: The prognostic values of staging parameters require continual re?assessment amid changes in diag?nostic and therapeutic methods. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors and failure patterns of non?meta?static nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) in the intensity?modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) era.Methods: We reviewed the data from 749 patients with newly diagnosed, biopsy?proven, non?metastatic NPC in our cancer center(South China, an NPC endemic area) between January 2003 and December 2007. All patients under?went magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) before receiving IMRT. The actuarial survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and survival curves were compared using the log?rank test. Multivariate analyses with the Cox proportional hazards model were used to test for the independent prognostic factors by backward eliminating insigniicant explanatory variables.Results: The 5?year occurrence rates of local failure, regional failure, locoregional failure, and distant failure were 5.4, 3.0, 7.4, and 17.4%, respectively. The 5?year survival rates were as follows: local relapse?free survival, 94.6%; nodal relapse?free survival, 97.0%; distant metastasis?free survival, 82.6%; disease?free survival, 75.1%; and overall survival, 82.0%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that orbit involvement was the only signiicant prognostic fac?tor for local failure(P = 0.011). Parapharyngeal tumor extension, retropharyngeal lymph node involvement, and the laterality, longest diameter, and Ho's location of the cervical lymph nodes were signiicant prognostic factors for both distant failure and disease failure(all P < 0.05). Intracranial extension had signiicant prognostic value for distant failure(P = 0.040).Conclusions: The key failure pattern for NPC was distant metastasis in the IMRT era. With changes in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as treatment modalities, the signiicant prognostic parameters for local control have also been altered substantially.展开更多
Background: The value of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) DNA assay during posttreatment follow-up of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) presenting with different pretreatment plasma EBV DNA levels remains unclear...Background: The value of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) DNA assay during posttreatment follow-up of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) presenting with different pretreatment plasma EBV DNA levels remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of plasma EBV DNA assay during posttreatment followup in the patients with NPC who have undergone intensity-modulated radiotherapy.Methods: The medical records of 385 NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy between November 2009 and February 2012 were reviewed. All patients underwent plasma EBV DNA assays before treatment, within3 months after treatment, and then every 3-12 months during posttreatment follow-up period. The recurrence rates for patients with different pretreatment and posttreatment follow-up plasma EBV DNA levels were analyzed.Results: Of the 385 patients, 267(69.4%) had detectable pretreatment plasma EBV DNA(> 0 copy/mL) and 93(24.2%) had detectable posttreatment EBV DNA during a median follow-up of 52.8 months(range 9.3-73.8 months).Detectable EBV DNA during posttreatment follow-up was found in 14.4%(17/118) and 28.5%(76/267) of patients with undetectable and detectable pretreatment EBV DNA, respectively, and was significantly associated with tumor recurrence in both patient groups. EBV DNA was detectable in 12.8%(40/313) of patients who remained disease-free,56.4%(22/39) of patients with locoregional recurrence alone, and 93.9%(31/33) of patients with distant metastasis as the first recurrence event(P < 0.001); 6.5%(19/292) of patients with undetectable EBV DNA and 57.0%(53/93) of patient with detectable EBV DNA during posttreatment follow-up experienced tumor recurrence. Compared with other cut-off values, the cut-off value of 0 copy/mL for EBV DNA during posttreatment follow-up had the highest area under the ROC curve(AUC) value(0.804,95% confidence interval 0.741-0.868) for predicting tumor recurrence(sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy: 73.6%, 87.2%, and 84.7%, respectively).Conclusion: Plasma EBV DNA level during posttreatment follow-up is a good marker for predicting distant metastasis but not locoregional recurrence in the patients with NPC irrespective of the pretreatment EBV DNA levels.展开更多
Clinical target volume (CTV) delineation is crucial for tumor control and normal tissue protection. This study aimed to define the locoregional extension patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to improve CTV d...Clinical target volume (CTV) delineation is crucial for tumor control and normal tissue protection. This study aimed to define the locoregional extension patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to improve CTV delineation. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 2366 newly diagnosed NPC patients were reviewed. According to incidence rates of tumor invasion, the anatomic sites surrounding the nasopharynx were classified into high-risk (>30%), medium-risk (5%-30%), and low-risk (<5%) groups. The lymph node (LN) level was determined according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group guidelines, which were further categorized into the upper neck (retropharyngeal region and level Ⅱ), middle neck (levels Ⅲ and Va), and lower neck (levels Ⅳ and Vb and the supraclavicular fossa). The high-risk anatomic sites were adjacent to the nasopharynx, whereas those at medium- or low-risk were separated from the nasopharynx. If the high-risk anatomic sites were involved, the rates of tumor invasion into the adjacent medium-risk sites increased; if not, the rates were significantly lower (P < 0.01). Among the 1920 (81.1%) patients with positive LN, the incidence rates of LN metastasis in the upper, middle, and lower neck were 99.6% , 30.2%, and 7.2%, respectively, and skip metastasis happened in only 1.2% of patients. In the 929 patients who had unilateral upper neck involvement, the rates of contralateral middle neck and lower neck involvement were 1.8% and 0.4%, respectively. Thus, local disease spreads stepwise from proximal sites to distal sites, and LN metastasis spreads from the upper neck to the lower neck. Individualized CTV delineation for NPC may be feasible.展开更多
Background:In the era of intensity?modulated radiotherapy(IMRT),the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NACT)in treating ascending?type nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is under?evaluated.This study was to compare the effica...Background:In the era of intensity?modulated radiotherapy(IMRT),the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NACT)in treating ascending?type nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is under?evaluated.This study was to compare the efficacy of NACT followed by IMRT(NACT+RT)with the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)on ascending?type NPC.Methods:Clinical data of 214 patients with ascending?type NPC treated with NACT+RT or CCRT between Decem?ber 2009 and July 2011 were analyzed.Of the 214 patients,98 were treated with NACT followed by IMRT,and 116 were treated with CCRT.The survival rates were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis,and the survival curves were compared using a log?rank test.Results:The 4?year overall survival,locoregional failure?free survival,distant failure?free survival,and failure?free sur?vival rates were not significantly different between the two groups(all P>0.05).However,patients in the CCRT group exhibited more severe acute adverse events than did patients in the NACT+RT group during radiotherapy,includ?ing leukopenia(30.2%vs.15.3%,P=0.016),neutropenia(25.9%vs.11.2%,P=0.011),and mucositis(57.8%vs.40.8%,P=0.028).After radiotherapy,patients in the CCRT group exhibited significantly higher rates of xerostomia(21.6%vs.Conclusions:The treatment outcomes of the NACT+RT and CCRT groups were similar;however,CCRT led to higher rates of acute and late toxicities.NACT+RT may therefore be a better treatment strategy for ascending?type NPC.展开更多
The application of simultaneous integrated boost-intensity modulated radiotherapy(SIB-IMRT)in pediatric and adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is underevaluated.This study aimed to evaluate long-term outcome and ...The application of simultaneous integrated boost-intensity modulated radiotherapy(SIB-IMRT)in pediatric and adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is underevaluated.This study aimed to evaluate long-term outcome and late toxicities in pediatric and adolescent NPC after SIB-IMRT combined with chemotherapy.Thirty-four patients(aged 8–20 years)with histologically proven,non-disseminated NPC treated with SIB-IMRT were enrolled in this retrospective study.The disease stage distribution was as follows:stage I,1(2.9%);stage III,14(41.2%);and stage IV,19(55.9%).All patients underwent SIBIMRT and 30 patients also underwent cisplatin-based chemotherapy.The prescribed dose of IMRT was64–68 Gy in 29–31 fractions to the nasopharyngeal gross target volume.Within the median follow-up of 52months(range,9–111 months),1 patient(2.9%)experienced local recurrence and 4(11.8%)developed distant metastasis(to the lung in 3 cases and to multiple organs in 1 case).Four patients(11.8%)died due to recurrence or metastasis.The 5-year locoregional relapse–free survival,distant metastasis–free survival,disease-free survival,and overall survival rates were 97.1%,88.2%,85.3%,and 88.2%,respectively.The most common acute toxicities were grades 3–4 hematologic toxicities and stomatitis.Of the 24 patients who survived for more than 2 years,16(66.7%)and 15(62.5%)developed grades 1–2 xerostomia and ototoxicity,respectively.Two patients(8.3%)developed grade 3 ototoxicity;no grade 4 toxicities were observed.SIB-IMRT combined with chemotherapy achieves excellent long-term locoregional control in pediatric and adolescent NPC,with mild incidence of late toxicities.Distant metastasis is the predominant mode of failure.展开更多
The prognostic value of T category for locoregional control in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)has decreased with the extensive use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT).We aimed to develop a prognostic...The prognostic value of T category for locoregional control in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)has decreased with the extensive use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT).We aimed to develop a prognostic scoring system(PSS)that incorporated tumor extension and clinical characteristics for locoregional control in NPC patients treated with IMRT.The magnetic resonance imaging scans and medical records of 717 patients with nonmetastatic NPC treated with IMRT at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2003 and January 2008 were reviewed.Age,pathologic classification,primary tumor extension,primary gross tumor volume(GTV-p),T and N categories,and baseline lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)level were analyzed.Hierarchical cluster analysis as well as univariate and multivariate analyses were used to develop the PSS.Independent prognostic factors for locoregional relapse included N2–3 stage,GTV-p≥26.8 mL,and involvement of one or more structures within cluster3.We calculated a risk score derived from the regression coefficient of each factor and classified patients into four groups:low risk(score 0),intermediate risk(score>0 and≤1),high risk(score>1 and≤2),and extremely high risk(score>2).The 5-year locoregional control rates for these groups were 97.4%,93.6%,85.2%,and 78.6%,respectively(P<0.001).We have developed a PSS that can help identify NPC patients who are at high risk for locoregional relapse and can guide individualized treatments for NPC patients.展开更多
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a malignant epithelial tumor originating in the nasopharynx and has a high incidence in Southeast Asia and North Africa.To develop these comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis and m...Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a malignant epithelial tumor originating in the nasopharynx and has a high incidence in Southeast Asia and North Africa.To develop these comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis and management of NPC,the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology(CSCO)arranged a multi-disciplinary team comprising of experts from all sub-specialties of NPC to write,discuss,and revise the guidelines.Based on the findings of evidencebased medicine in China and abroad,domestic experts have iteratively developed these guidelines to provide proper management of NPC.Overall,the guidelines describe the screening,clinical and pathological diagnosis,staging and risk assessment,therapies,and follow-up of NPC,which aim to improve the management of NPC.展开更多
Background:The classification criteria and staging groups for nasopharyngeal carcinoma described in the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer(UICC/AJCC)staging system have been revi...Background:The classification criteria and staging groups for nasopharyngeal carcinoma described in the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer(UICC/AJCC)staging system have been revised over time.This study assessed the proportion of patients whose staging and treatment strategy have changed due to revisions of the UICC/AJCC staging system over the past 10 years(ie,from the sixth edition to the eighth edition),to provide information for further refinement.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 1901 patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in our cancer center between November 2009 and June 2012.The Akaike information criterion and Harrell concordance index were applied to evaluate the performance of the staging system.Results:In total,25(1.3%)of the 1901 patients who were staged as T2a according to the sixth edition system were downgraded to T1 in the eighth edition;430(22.6%)staged as N0 in the sixth edition were upgraded to N1 in the eighth edition;106(5.6%)staged as N1/2 in the sixth edition were upgraded to N3 in the eighth edition.In addition,51(2.7%)and 25(1.3%)of the study population were upstaged from stage Ⅰ to stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅱ to stage IVa,respectively;10(0.5%)was downgraded from stage Ⅱ to stage Ⅰ.The survival curves of adjacent N categories and staging groups defined by eighth classification system were well-separated.However,there was no significant difference in the locoregional failure-free survival(P=0.730)and disease-free survival(P=0.690)rates between the T2 and T3 categories in the eighth edition classification system.Conclusions:Modifications to the tumor-node-metastasis staging system over the past 10 years have resulted in N classification changes in numerous cases.Although the eighth edition tumor-node-metastasis staging system better predicts survival outcomes,the T classification could be simplified in future revisions.展开更多
To the Editor:In the era of evidence-based medicine,the traditional randomized controlled trials(RCT)is on the top of the pyramid of evidence hierarchy.With well-controlled inclusion and exclusion criteria,randomizati...To the Editor:In the era of evidence-based medicine,the traditional randomized controlled trials(RCT)is on the top of the pyramid of evidence hierarchy.With well-controlled inclusion and exclusion criteria,randomization,and strict intervention protocol,traditional RCT construct the ideal medical circumstance,under which the causal relationship between the outcome and intervention can be better interpreted.However,it will also make the external validity and generalizability of traditional RCT limited.展开更多
Purpose Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a malignant epithelial tumor originating in the nasopharynx and is particularly prevalent in southern China.Unfortunately,international guidelines,such as NCCN or ESMO,fail to a...Purpose Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a malignant epithelial tumor originating in the nasopharynx and is particularly prevalent in southern China.Unfortunately,international guidelines,such as NCCN or ESMO,fail to adequately coincide with clinical practice in China,making it difficult to achieve precision personalized therapy in China.The aim of this guideline is to better promote a"Multidisciplinary Team to Holistic Integrative Medicine"(MDT to HIM)system for the prevention,screening,diagnosis,treatment,and rehabilitation of NPC.Methods The China Anti-Cancer Association(CACA)invited domestic multi-disciplinary experts,involving radiologists,oncologists,surgeons,pathologists,herbalists,physiatrists,and psychologists,to write,discuss,and revise the guidelines.Based on the integration of research evidence,clinical experience,and patient needs,the domestic experts have iteratively developed these guidelines to provide proper and feasible management of NPC.Results and conclusion The CACA Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Management of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma are more suitable for China’s clinical practice,highlight Chinese characteristics,and have important clinical significance.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou City,China(No.14570006)the Planned Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province,China(No.2013B020400004)
文摘Background: Little is known about the nature of metaistasis to small cervical lymph nodes(SCLNS) in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)examined by using 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose(^(18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT).The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic values of PET/CT in identifying metastasis in SCLNs in NPC patients.Methods: Magnetic resonance images(MRI) and PET/CT scans for 470 patients with newly diagnosed, non-distant metastatic NPC were analyzed. Metastatic rates of SCLNs were defined by the positive number of SCLNs on PET/CT scans and total number of SCLNs on MRI scans. Receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to compare PET/CT-determined stage with MRI-determined stage.Results: In total, 2082 SCLNs were identified, with 808(38.8%) ≥ 5 and < 6 mm in diameter(group A), 526(25.3%)≥ 6 and < 7 mm in diameter(group B),374(18.0%)≥ 7 and < 8 mm in diameter(group C), 237(11.4%) ≥8 and<9 mm in diameter(group D),and 137(6.5%) ≥ 9 and <10 mm in diameter(group E).The overall metastatic rates examined by using PET/CT for groups A, B,C,D, and E were 3.5%, 8.0%, 31.3%, 60.0%, and 83.9%, respectively(P< 0.001). In level IV/Vb, the metastatic rate for nodes ≥ 8 mm was 84.6%. PET/CT examination resulted in modification of N category and overall stage for 135(28.7%) and 46(9.8%) patients, respectively. The areas under curve of MRIdetermined and PET/CT-determined overall stage were 0.659 and 0.704 for predicting overall survival, 0.661 and 0.711 for predicting distant metastasis-free survival, and 0.636 and 0.663 for predicting disease-free survival.Conclusions: PET/CT was more effective than MRI in identifying metastatic SCLNs, and the radiologic diagnostic criteria for metastatic lymph nodes in level IV/Vb should be re-defined.
基金supported by grants from the Key Laboratory Construction Project of Guangzhou City,China (121800085)the Health & Medical Collaborative Innovation Project of Guangzhou City,China (201400000001)+2 种基金the National Science & Technology Pillar Program during the Twelfth Five-year Plan Period (2014BAI09B10)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81201746)the Planned Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province,China (2013B020400004)
文摘Background: The prognostic values of staging parameters require continual re?assessment amid changes in diag?nostic and therapeutic methods. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors and failure patterns of non?meta?static nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) in the intensity?modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) era.Methods: We reviewed the data from 749 patients with newly diagnosed, biopsy?proven, non?metastatic NPC in our cancer center(South China, an NPC endemic area) between January 2003 and December 2007. All patients under?went magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) before receiving IMRT. The actuarial survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and survival curves were compared using the log?rank test. Multivariate analyses with the Cox proportional hazards model were used to test for the independent prognostic factors by backward eliminating insigniicant explanatory variables.Results: The 5?year occurrence rates of local failure, regional failure, locoregional failure, and distant failure were 5.4, 3.0, 7.4, and 17.4%, respectively. The 5?year survival rates were as follows: local relapse?free survival, 94.6%; nodal relapse?free survival, 97.0%; distant metastasis?free survival, 82.6%; disease?free survival, 75.1%; and overall survival, 82.0%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that orbit involvement was the only signiicant prognostic fac?tor for local failure(P = 0.011). Parapharyngeal tumor extension, retropharyngeal lymph node involvement, and the laterality, longest diameter, and Ho's location of the cervical lymph nodes were signiicant prognostic factors for both distant failure and disease failure(all P < 0.05). Intracranial extension had signiicant prognostic value for distant failure(P = 0.040).Conclusions: The key failure pattern for NPC was distant metastasis in the IMRT era. With changes in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as treatment modalities, the signiicant prognostic parameters for local control have also been altered substantially.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(No.2015A030310033)the Health&Medical Collaborative Innovation Project of Guangzhou City,China(No.201400000001)the Key Laboratory Construction Project of Guangzhou City(No.121800085)
文摘Background: The value of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) DNA assay during posttreatment follow-up of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) presenting with different pretreatment plasma EBV DNA levels remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of plasma EBV DNA assay during posttreatment followup in the patients with NPC who have undergone intensity-modulated radiotherapy.Methods: The medical records of 385 NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy between November 2009 and February 2012 were reviewed. All patients underwent plasma EBV DNA assays before treatment, within3 months after treatment, and then every 3-12 months during posttreatment follow-up period. The recurrence rates for patients with different pretreatment and posttreatment follow-up plasma EBV DNA levels were analyzed.Results: Of the 385 patients, 267(69.4%) had detectable pretreatment plasma EBV DNA(> 0 copy/mL) and 93(24.2%) had detectable posttreatment EBV DNA during a median follow-up of 52.8 months(range 9.3-73.8 months).Detectable EBV DNA during posttreatment follow-up was found in 14.4%(17/118) and 28.5%(76/267) of patients with undetectable and detectable pretreatment EBV DNA, respectively, and was significantly associated with tumor recurrence in both patient groups. EBV DNA was detectable in 12.8%(40/313) of patients who remained disease-free,56.4%(22/39) of patients with locoregional recurrence alone, and 93.9%(31/33) of patients with distant metastasis as the first recurrence event(P < 0.001); 6.5%(19/292) of patients with undetectable EBV DNA and 57.0%(53/93) of patient with detectable EBV DNA during posttreatment follow-up experienced tumor recurrence. Compared with other cut-off values, the cut-off value of 0 copy/mL for EBV DNA during posttreatment follow-up had the highest area under the ROC curve(AUC) value(0.804,95% confidence interval 0.741-0.868) for predicting tumor recurrence(sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy: 73.6%, 87.2%, and 84.7%, respectively).Conclusion: Plasma EBV DNA level during posttreatment follow-up is a good marker for predicting distant metastasis but not locoregional recurrence in the patients with NPC irrespective of the pretreatment EBV DNA levels.
文摘Clinical target volume (CTV) delineation is crucial for tumor control and normal tissue protection. This study aimed to define the locoregional extension patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to improve CTV delineation. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 2366 newly diagnosed NPC patients were reviewed. According to incidence rates of tumor invasion, the anatomic sites surrounding the nasopharynx were classified into high-risk (>30%), medium-risk (5%-30%), and low-risk (<5%) groups. The lymph node (LN) level was determined according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group guidelines, which were further categorized into the upper neck (retropharyngeal region and level Ⅱ), middle neck (levels Ⅲ and Va), and lower neck (levels Ⅳ and Vb and the supraclavicular fossa). The high-risk anatomic sites were adjacent to the nasopharynx, whereas those at medium- or low-risk were separated from the nasopharynx. If the high-risk anatomic sites were involved, the rates of tumor invasion into the adjacent medium-risk sites increased; if not, the rates were significantly lower (P < 0.01). Among the 1920 (81.1%) patients with positive LN, the incidence rates of LN metastasis in the upper, middle, and lower neck were 99.6% , 30.2%, and 7.2%, respectively, and skip metastasis happened in only 1.2% of patients. In the 929 patients who had unilateral upper neck involvement, the rates of contralateral middle neck and lower neck involvement were 1.8% and 0.4%, respectively. Thus, local disease spreads stepwise from proximal sites to distal sites, and LN metastasis spreads from the upper neck to the lower neck. Individualized CTV delineation for NPC may be feasible.
基金supported by grants from the Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou City,China(No.14570006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81372409,81402532)the Sun Yat-sen University Clinical Research 5010 Program(No.2012011)
文摘Background:In the era of intensity?modulated radiotherapy(IMRT),the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NACT)in treating ascending?type nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is under?evaluated.This study was to compare the efficacy of NACT followed by IMRT(NACT+RT)with the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)on ascending?type NPC.Methods:Clinical data of 214 patients with ascending?type NPC treated with NACT+RT or CCRT between Decem?ber 2009 and July 2011 were analyzed.Of the 214 patients,98 were treated with NACT followed by IMRT,and 116 were treated with CCRT.The survival rates were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis,and the survival curves were compared using a log?rank test.Results:The 4?year overall survival,locoregional failure?free survival,distant failure?free survival,and failure?free sur?vival rates were not significantly different between the two groups(all P>0.05).However,patients in the CCRT group exhibited more severe acute adverse events than did patients in the NACT+RT group during radiotherapy,includ?ing leukopenia(30.2%vs.15.3%,P=0.016),neutropenia(25.9%vs.11.2%,P=0.011),and mucositis(57.8%vs.40.8%,P=0.028).After radiotherapy,patients in the CCRT group exhibited significantly higher rates of xerostomia(21.6%vs.Conclusions:The treatment outcomes of the NACT+RT and CCRT groups were similar;however,CCRT led to higher rates of acute and late toxicities.NACT+RT may therefore be a better treatment strategy for ascending?type NPC.
基金Natural ScienceFoundation of China(No.81071836)Sun Yat-sen University5010 Projects(No.050243)
文摘The application of simultaneous integrated boost-intensity modulated radiotherapy(SIB-IMRT)in pediatric and adolescent nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is underevaluated.This study aimed to evaluate long-term outcome and late toxicities in pediatric and adolescent NPC after SIB-IMRT combined with chemotherapy.Thirty-four patients(aged 8–20 years)with histologically proven,non-disseminated NPC treated with SIB-IMRT were enrolled in this retrospective study.The disease stage distribution was as follows:stage I,1(2.9%);stage III,14(41.2%);and stage IV,19(55.9%).All patients underwent SIBIMRT and 30 patients also underwent cisplatin-based chemotherapy.The prescribed dose of IMRT was64–68 Gy in 29–31 fractions to the nasopharyngeal gross target volume.Within the median follow-up of 52months(range,9–111 months),1 patient(2.9%)experienced local recurrence and 4(11.8%)developed distant metastasis(to the lung in 3 cases and to multiple organs in 1 case).Four patients(11.8%)died due to recurrence or metastasis.The 5-year locoregional relapse–free survival,distant metastasis–free survival,disease-free survival,and overall survival rates were 97.1%,88.2%,85.3%,and 88.2%,respectively.The most common acute toxicities were grades 3–4 hematologic toxicities and stomatitis.Of the 24 patients who survived for more than 2 years,16(66.7%)and 15(62.5%)developed grades 1–2 xerostomia and ototoxicity,respectively.Two patients(8.3%)developed grade 3 ototoxicity;no grade 4 toxicities were observed.SIB-IMRT combined with chemotherapy achieves excellent long-term locoregional control in pediatric and adolescent NPC,with mild incidence of late toxicities.Distant metastasis is the predominant mode of failure.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81071836)Sun Yat-sen University 5010 projects(No.050243)
文摘The prognostic value of T category for locoregional control in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)has decreased with the extensive use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT).We aimed to develop a prognostic scoring system(PSS)that incorporated tumor extension and clinical characteristics for locoregional control in NPC patients treated with IMRT.The magnetic resonance imaging scans and medical records of 717 patients with nonmetastatic NPC treated with IMRT at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2003 and January 2008 were reviewed.Age,pathologic classification,primary tumor extension,primary gross tumor volume(GTV-p),T and N categories,and baseline lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)level were analyzed.Hierarchical cluster analysis as well as univariate and multivariate analyses were used to develop the PSS.Independent prognostic factors for locoregional relapse included N2–3 stage,GTV-p≥26.8 mL,and involvement of one or more structures within cluster3.We calculated a risk score derived from the regression coefficient of each factor and classified patients into four groups:low risk(score 0),intermediate risk(score>0 and≤1),high risk(score>1 and≤2),and extremely high risk(score>2).The 5-year locoregional control rates for these groups were 97.4%,93.6%,85.2%,and 78.6%,respectively(P<0.001).We have developed a PSS that can help identify NPC patients who are at high risk for locoregional relapse and can guide individualized treatments for NPC patients.
文摘Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a malignant epithelial tumor originating in the nasopharynx and has a high incidence in Southeast Asia and North Africa.To develop these comprehensive guidelines for the diagnosis and management of NPC,the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology(CSCO)arranged a multi-disciplinary team comprising of experts from all sub-specialties of NPC to write,discuss,and revise the guidelines.Based on the findings of evidencebased medicine in China and abroad,domestic experts have iteratively developed these guidelines to provide proper management of NPC.Overall,the guidelines describe the screening,clinical and pathological diagnosis,staging and risk assessment,therapies,and follow-up of NPC,which aim to improve the management of NPC.
基金This study was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81930072)the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(No.2019B020230002)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2017A030312003)Health&Medical Collaborative Innovation Project of Guangzhou City,China(No.201803040003)the Innovation Team Development Plan of the Ministry of Education(No.IRT_17R110)Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation(111 Project,No.B14035)。
文摘Background:The classification criteria and staging groups for nasopharyngeal carcinoma described in the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer(UICC/AJCC)staging system have been revised over time.This study assessed the proportion of patients whose staging and treatment strategy have changed due to revisions of the UICC/AJCC staging system over the past 10 years(ie,from the sixth edition to the eighth edition),to provide information for further refinement.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 1901 patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in our cancer center between November 2009 and June 2012.The Akaike information criterion and Harrell concordance index were applied to evaluate the performance of the staging system.Results:In total,25(1.3%)of the 1901 patients who were staged as T2a according to the sixth edition system were downgraded to T1 in the eighth edition;430(22.6%)staged as N0 in the sixth edition were upgraded to N1 in the eighth edition;106(5.6%)staged as N1/2 in the sixth edition were upgraded to N3 in the eighth edition.In addition,51(2.7%)and 25(1.3%)of the study population were upstaged from stage Ⅰ to stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅱ to stage IVa,respectively;10(0.5%)was downgraded from stage Ⅱ to stage Ⅰ.The survival curves of adjacent N categories and staging groups defined by eighth classification system were well-separated.However,there was no significant difference in the locoregional failure-free survival(P=0.730)and disease-free survival(P=0.690)rates between the T2 and T3 categories in the eighth edition classification system.Conclusions:Modifications to the tumor-node-metastasis staging system over the past 10 years have resulted in N classification changes in numerous cases.Although the eighth edition tumor-node-metastasis staging system better predicts survival outcomes,the T classification could be simplified in future revisions.
基金This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81930072)the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(No.2019B020230002)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2017A030312003)the Health&Medical Collaborative Innovation Project of Guangzhou City,China(No.201803040003)the Innovation Team Development Plan of the Ministry of Education(No.IRT_17R110)the Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation(111 Project,No.B14035)。
文摘To the Editor:In the era of evidence-based medicine,the traditional randomized controlled trials(RCT)is on the top of the pyramid of evidence hierarchy.With well-controlled inclusion and exclusion criteria,randomization,and strict intervention protocol,traditional RCT construct the ideal medical circumstance,under which the causal relationship between the outcome and intervention can be better interpreted.However,it will also make the external validity and generalizability of traditional RCT limited.
文摘Purpose Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)is a malignant epithelial tumor originating in the nasopharynx and is particularly prevalent in southern China.Unfortunately,international guidelines,such as NCCN or ESMO,fail to adequately coincide with clinical practice in China,making it difficult to achieve precision personalized therapy in China.The aim of this guideline is to better promote a"Multidisciplinary Team to Holistic Integrative Medicine"(MDT to HIM)system for the prevention,screening,diagnosis,treatment,and rehabilitation of NPC.Methods The China Anti-Cancer Association(CACA)invited domestic multi-disciplinary experts,involving radiologists,oncologists,surgeons,pathologists,herbalists,physiatrists,and psychologists,to write,discuss,and revise the guidelines.Based on the integration of research evidence,clinical experience,and patient needs,the domestic experts have iteratively developed these guidelines to provide proper and feasible management of NPC.Results and conclusion The CACA Guidelines for Holistic Integrative Management of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma are more suitable for China’s clinical practice,highlight Chinese characteristics,and have important clinical significance.
