Long-term follow-up of a phase III study comparing radiotherapy with or without weekly oxaliplatin for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Previous results from our trial showed that adding oxaliplatin to radiotherapy (RT) increased survival in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at 2 years. Here, we present the data of long-term efficacy and late toxic effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2001 and January 2003, 115 Patients with nonkeratinizing/undifferentiated locoregionally advanced NPC were randomly to receive either RT alone (n = 56) or plus concurrent oxaliplatin 70 mg/m(2) weekly for six cycles (n = 59).

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 114 months (range 18-139 months), the 5-year overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) group were significantly higher than those observed in the RT-alone group (OS, 73.2% versus 60.2%, P = 0.028; MFS, 74.7% versus 63.0%, P = 0.027). However, CCRT did not improve locoregional failure-free survival significantly. Subgroup analyses showed that the superiorities of CCRT mainly existed in the T3-4N0-1 stage subgroup (OS: HR = 0.394, P = 0.034). The grade 3/4 late toxic effects were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSION(S)

The long-term follow-up data confirms the role of CCRT as a treatment of locoregionally advanced NPC. Oxaliplatin can be considered as an alternative optional therapeutic regimen for these patients due to its high efficiency and low toxic effect.

Binding and biological activity of C-terminally modified melanocortin peptides: a comparison between their actions at rodent MC1 and MC3 receptors

Five subtypes of melanocortin receptors have to date been identified, but to date little is known about the different structural requirements for binding and biological activity at these receptors. In this study, the role of C-terminal melanocortin peptide residues in imparting selectivity for the receptor subtypes was examined. C-terminally modified analogues of alpha-MSH and gamma-MSH were synthesized and their interaction with MC1 and MC3 melanocortin receptors was investigated. This study provides further evidence for an important role of proline 12 (numbering with respect to alpha-MSH) for binding and activity at the MC1 receptor. Although the influence of C-terminal amino acids on binding and activity at MC3-R was less marked, some of them were nevertheless observed to be beneficial for the interaction with this receptor subtype.