Practice patterns for the radical treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer by head and neck oncologists in the United Kingdom

A Multicentre UK Study of Outcomes of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy ± Chemotherapy

AIMS

To report the outcomes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults across three large centres in a non-endemic region in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in three large cancer centres with IMRT ± chemotherapy with curative intent between 2009 and 2016 were identified from institutional databases. Radiotherapy was delivered with 70 Gy in 33-35 daily fractions. A univariable analysis was carried out to evaluate the relationship of patient, tumour and treatment factors with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival.

RESULTS

In total, 151 patients were identified with a median follow-up of 5.2 years. The median age was 52 years (range 18-85). Seventy-five per cent were of Caucasian origin; 75% had non-keratinising tumours; Epstein Barr virus status was only available in 23% of patients; 74% of patients had stage III or IV disease; 54% of patients received induction chemotherapy; 86% of patients received concurrent chemotherapy. Five-year overall survival, PFS, local disease-free survival, regional disease-free survival and distant disease-free survival were 70%, 65%, 91%, 94% and 82%, respectively. Keratinising squamous cell carcinoma, older age, worse performance status, smoking and alcohol intake were associated with inferior overall survival and PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Local, regional and distant disease control are relatively high following IMRT ± chemotherapy in a non-endemic population. There was considerable heterogeneity in terms of radiotherapy treatment and the use of chemotherapy, encouraging the development of treatment protocols and expert peer review in non-endemic regions.