Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study

Abstract Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) remains the cornerstone of treatment for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, data on long-term survival, particularly 10-year outcomes, are limited. Methods This retrospective study evaluated the clini...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiao-li Wang, Da-qing Sun, Hui Yang, Yang Li, Xiu-feng Li, Xiao-long Chang, Xiang-di Meng, Ya-nan Zhang, Yun-xiang Zhang, Fu-rong Hao, Jian-wen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-03230-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849331846768230400
author Xiao-li Wang
Da-qing Sun
Hui Yang
Yang Li
Xiu-feng Li
Xiao-long Chang
Xiang-di Meng
Ya-nan Zhang
Yun-xiang Zhang
Fu-rong Hao
Jian-wen Li
author_facet Xiao-li Wang
Da-qing Sun
Hui Yang
Yang Li
Xiu-feng Li
Xiao-long Chang
Xiang-di Meng
Ya-nan Zhang
Yun-xiang Zhang
Fu-rong Hao
Jian-wen Li
author_sort Xiao-li Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) remains the cornerstone of treatment for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, data on long-term survival, particularly 10-year outcomes, are limited. Methods This retrospective study evaluated the clinical efficacy and acute hematologic toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in 177 newly diagnosed patients with locoregionally moderate or advanced NPC. Patients were categorized into three groups: IMRT alone; CCRT—including subgroups receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) + CCRT, CCRT alone, and NC + CCRT + adjuvant chemotherapy (AC); and non-CCRT—including NC + IMRT + AC, and IMRT + AC. Results The median follow-up duration was 48.4 months (range, 3.0–178.9 months). Acute hematologic toxicities were generally mild, with 86.4% (153/177) of patients experiencing only grade 0–2 toxicity. The 10-year OS, PFS, LRFS, and DMFS rates were 66.6%, 75.3%, 91.9%, and 81.2%, respectively. OS differed significantly among the three treatment groups (P = 0.01). Both the CCRT and non-CCRT regimens were associated with improved 10-year OS compared to IMRT alone, with absolute increases of 29.4% and 26.1%, respectively (P = 0.01 for both comparisons). Conclusions In the era of IMRT, chemoradiotherapy was associated with manageable acute hematologic toxicity in patients with NPC. Distant metastasis, particularly in those with N3 disease, remained the predominant pattern of failure. Compared with IMRT alone, both CCRT (CCRT, NC + CCRT + AC, NC + CCRT) and non-CCRT (NC + IMRT + AC, IMRT + AC) demonstrated a potential survival benefit in newly diagnosed patients with locoregionally moderate or advanced NPC. These findings warrant further validation in prospective randomized clinical trials.
format Article
id doaj-art-d4cc1e64488941bc896f6749ab7cab8b
institution Kabale University
issn 2730-6011
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Oncology
spelling doaj-art-d4cc1e64488941bc896f6749ab7cab8b2025-08-20T03:46:23ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-07-0116111310.1007/s12672-025-03230-7Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective studyXiao-li Wang0Da-qing Sun1Hui Yang2Yang Li3Xiu-feng Li4Xiao-long Chang5Xiang-di Meng6Ya-nan Zhang7Yun-xiang Zhang8Fu-rong Hao9Jian-wen Li10Department of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Medical Imaging Center, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical UniversityDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Pathology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Molecular Pathology, Qingdao Central Hospital of University of Health and Rehabilitation SciencesDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Weifang People’s HospitalAbstract Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) remains the cornerstone of treatment for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, data on long-term survival, particularly 10-year outcomes, are limited. Methods This retrospective study evaluated the clinical efficacy and acute hematologic toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in 177 newly diagnosed patients with locoregionally moderate or advanced NPC. Patients were categorized into three groups: IMRT alone; CCRT—including subgroups receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) + CCRT, CCRT alone, and NC + CCRT + adjuvant chemotherapy (AC); and non-CCRT—including NC + IMRT + AC, and IMRT + AC. Results The median follow-up duration was 48.4 months (range, 3.0–178.9 months). Acute hematologic toxicities were generally mild, with 86.4% (153/177) of patients experiencing only grade 0–2 toxicity. The 10-year OS, PFS, LRFS, and DMFS rates were 66.6%, 75.3%, 91.9%, and 81.2%, respectively. OS differed significantly among the three treatment groups (P = 0.01). Both the CCRT and non-CCRT regimens were associated with improved 10-year OS compared to IMRT alone, with absolute increases of 29.4% and 26.1%, respectively (P = 0.01 for both comparisons). Conclusions In the era of IMRT, chemoradiotherapy was associated with manageable acute hematologic toxicity in patients with NPC. Distant metastasis, particularly in those with N3 disease, remained the predominant pattern of failure. Compared with IMRT alone, both CCRT (CCRT, NC + CCRT + AC, NC + CCRT) and non-CCRT (NC + IMRT + AC, IMRT + AC) demonstrated a potential survival benefit in newly diagnosed patients with locoregionally moderate or advanced NPC. These findings warrant further validation in prospective randomized clinical trials.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-03230-7Nasopharyngeal carcinomaClinical studiesChemotherapyIntensity-modulated radiotherapyTreatment outcome
spellingShingle Xiao-li Wang
Da-qing Sun
Hui Yang
Yang Li
Xiu-feng Li
Xiao-long Chang
Xiang-di Meng
Ya-nan Zhang
Yun-xiang Zhang
Fu-rong Hao
Jian-wen Li
Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study
Discover Oncology
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Clinical studies
Chemotherapy
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy
Treatment outcome
title Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study
title_full Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study
title_fullStr Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study
title_short Ten-year outcomes of IMRT with chemotherapy versus IMRT alone for stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study
title_sort ten year outcomes of imrt with chemotherapy versus imrt alone for stage ii iva nasopharyngeal carcinoma a retrospective study
topic Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Clinical studies
Chemotherapy
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy
Treatment outcome
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-03230-7
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaoliwang tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT daqingsun tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT huiyang tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT yangli tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT xiufengli tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT xiaolongchang tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT xiangdimeng tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT yananzhang tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT yunxiangzhang tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT furonghao tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy
AT jianwenli tenyearoutcomesofimrtwithchemotherapyversusimrtaloneforstageiiivanasopharyngealcarcinomaaretrospectivestudy