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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 30-year experience of a single institution in a non-endemic area

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Abstract

Purpose

Over the past years, radiotherapy techniques have changed significantly. The impact of these changes in the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not been fully evaluated.

Methods/patients

Between 1984 and 2014, 223 NPC were diagnosed in our hospital. Prior to 2000, patients were treated with 2D treatment plan (RT2D) that evolved to 3D schemes thereafter (RT3D).

Results

Tumors in the RT3D period showed significantly lower stages than those in the RT2D period. 5-year cause-specific survival improved from 55.7% (95% CI: 46.7–64.7%) in the RT2D period to 78.7% (95% CI: 68.7–88.7%) in the RT3D period (P = 0.006). This difference was greater for non-keratinizing NPC, where specific survival went from 63.2% (95% CI: 52.2–74.2%) to 84.4% (95% CI: 74.4–94.4%) (P = 0.014).

Conclusion

Recent changes in treatment strategies including concurrent chemoradiation and 3D radiotherapy may have impacted in better survival for NPC. Improved imaging techniques may have contributed by earlier detection and better treatment planning.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI14/01918). The study was cofunded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), A Way to Build Europe.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otorhinolaryngology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, C. Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025, Barcelona, Spain

    J. García-Lorenzo, A. Codina & X. León

  2. Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

    N. Farre & M. De Vega

  3. Medical Oncology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

    O. Gallego

Authors
  1. J. García-Lorenzo
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  2. N. Farre
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  3. A. Codina
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  4. O. Gallego
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  5. M. De Vega
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  6. X. León
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. García-Lorenzo.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The present work is a retrospective analysis of clinical data. For this type of study formal consent is not required.

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García-Lorenzo, J., Farre, N., Codina, A. et al. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 30-year experience of a single institution in a non-endemic area. Clin Transl Oncol 19, 777–783 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-016-1606-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-016-1606-x

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