Bevacizumab plus cisplatin and helical tomotherapy in treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Jianxiong Li,1,* Zhifei Zhao,1,* Xuan Wu,1,* Jie Yao,2,* Lin Ma,1 Rui Ye,1 Baolong Niu,1 Lanqing Liang,1 Xiao Zhao,1 Qianqian Wang1 1Radiology Department, Cancer Center, The General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, The People’s Liberation Army 161 Hospital, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: In recent years, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted drugs have been respectively used in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In our research, we combined all of them for better curative effects.Materials and methods: Thirty patients with histologically confirmed stage III~IV (without distant metastasis) nasopharyngeal carcinoma were recruited between December 2013 and October 2014 with strict eligibility requirements and exclusion criteria. Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg, 80 mg/m2 cisplatin and 67.5 Gy radiotherapy (helical tomotherapy [TOMO]) was given according to standard treatment protocols.Results: After 3 months, 24 complete responses (80%) and six partial responses (40%) were observed in our research. Twenty-four patients (80%) experienced oropharyngeal mucositis, 26% patients experienced weight loss caused by pharyngeal pain and dysphagia caused by oropharyngeal mucositis.Conclusion: Bevacizumab plus cisplatin and TOMO in treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma can increase curative effects with low side effects and toxicities. Keywords: bevacizumab, cisplatin, helical tomotherapy (TOMO), nasopharyngeal carcinoma