Clinical analysis of cetuximab combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy in treatment of local regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity in local regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) patients treated by cetuximab combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy.Methods 58 cases of untreated NPC patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given the treatment of cetuximab combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy,the control group was given the treatment of intensity modulated radiation therapy.The short-term efficacy and toxicity were evaluated,followed up for 1-year the objective response was evaluated.Results After treatment and 3 months after treatment,the CR rate of the nasopharynx and cervical lymph node of the treatment group were higher than the control group,compared with control group the difference was significant(P ＜0.05) ;Follow-up rate was 100％,the median follow-up time was 12 months,all patients were no deaths in the follow-up period; the local control rate of the treatment group was 89.3％,it was higher than the control group(73.3％ ),compared with control group the difference was significant( P ＜0.05) ;The distant metastasis rate of the treatment group was 3.6％,it was lower than the control group(23.3 ％ ),compared with control group the difference was significant( P ＜0.05) ;Most acute toxicity of the two groups were 1 to 2 degrees,and the difference was not statistically significant( P ＞ 0.05 ) ; During the treatment,28 patients of the treatment group occurred acne-like rash,after symptomatic treatment and nutritional support therapy was initiated.Conclusion The cetuximab combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy in treatment of local regionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma had better efficacy and lower toxicity,the therapy method was worthy to be popularized. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasms; Cetuximab; Radiation therapy, modulated