Survival Effects of Radiotherapy on Patients Newly Diagnosed with Distant Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Non-High- Incidence Areas

Purpose: To analyze the effects of radiotherapy and its timing on the survival and safety of patients with newly diagnosed distant metastatic NPC in non-high-incidence areas. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 94 newly diagnosed NPC patients with distant metastatic admitted to our hospital from January 2011 to June 2018. They were divided into three groups: no radiotherapy group received chemotherapy alone, early radiotherapy group was combined with radiotherapy during 1 to 3 cycles of chemotherapy, and late radiotherapy group was combined with radiotherapy after 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy were effective. The efficacy and side effects of the three groups were compared, and the prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: The 6-month, 1-year and 2-year PFS were 53.6%, 14.3% and 3.6% in no radiotherapy group, 71.0%, 38.7% and 19.4% in early radiotherapy group, 88.6%, 48.6% and 22.9% in late radiotherapy group; the radiotherapy groups were better than the no radiotherapy group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.017). The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year OS were 75.0%, 32.1% and 0 in no radiotherapy group, 77.4%, 54.8% and 12.9% in early radiotherapy group, 85.7%, 71.4% and 31.4% in late radiotherapy group; the radiotherapy groups were better than the no radiotherapy group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.017). There was no significant difference in OS and PFS between the two radiotherapy groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that HBV (P = 0.031), number of metastases (P = 0.002), liver metastases (P = 0.038), radiotherapy (P < 0.001) and treatment response (P = 0.011) were related to OS. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events (P > 0.017). Conclusion: Early and late combined radiotherapy had similar clinical efficacy and both prolonged PFS and OS for patients with newly diagnosed distant metastatic NPC in non-high risk areas. If chemotherapy response is expected to be poor, radiotherapy can be received early.

Automated summary

The study analyzed the effects of radiotherapy and its timing on the survival and safety of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, finding that both early and late combined radiotherapy prolonged PFS and OS for patients compared to those who did not receive radiotherapy.