Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or chemoradiation for locally advanced nasal and paranasal sinus tumors

Abstract

6055 Background: The treatment of locally advanced nasal and paranasal sinus tumors is controversial. The disease is chemosensitive and there is increasing interest in the use of chemotherapy with radiation in this group of patients. Our aim was to determine survival in patients with locally advanced nasal and paranasal sinus tumors treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or chemoradiation (RT/CRT). Methods: Between August 2005 and August 2008, 21 patients with AJCC stage III or IV nasal and paranasal sinus tumors were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by RT/CRT in our institution. There were 15 males and 6 females (M 71%:F 29%) with a median age of 49 years (range 19 - 70 years). Site of disease was nasal cavity 33% (7), ethamoid sinus 43% (9), maxillary antrum 19% (4), and frontal sinus in 5% (1) of patients. Histopathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma 43% (9), undifferentiated carcinoma 29% (6), adenocarcinoma 19% (4), esthesioneuroblastoma in 9% (2) of patients. Induction chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin 75 mg / metre2 day 1 and gemcitabine 1 gm / metre2 day 1 and 8 every three weeks. Eighty-five percent (18/21) received 2 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (range 1–4 cycles) prior to radiotherapy. Radiotherapy dose was 54 Gy - 70 Gy (median radiation dose 66 Gy). Fifty-seven percent (12/21) received concomitant cisplatin with radiotherapy. Results: Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; complete in 19% (4), partial in 67% (14), no response/progression 14% (3). Following RT/CRT 86% (18/21) had complete regression of disease. Thirty-three percent (7/21) have failed treatment (local 3, regional 2, and distant metastasis in 2 patients). Among treatment failures 2 patients were successfully salvaged; surgery for local recurrence in one patient and in the other case radiation was given for regional recurrence. Disease free and overall survival at 40 months was 52% and 63%, respectively. Conclusions: Gemcitabine cisplatin chemotherapy has good activity in nasal and paranasal sinus tumors. In combination with RT/CRT survival rates are encouraging and the approach merits further investigations in clinical trials. No significant financial relationships to disclose.