COMBINED RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY FOR ADVANCED UNDIFFERENTIATED NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA IN CHILDREN

Five children, 11-16 years of age at diagnosis, with advanced (stage I V) undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, are reviewed. All had ra diotherapy and chemotherapy, four at first treatment, are disease free in 8 months, 6, 10, and 13 years from diagnosis. One patient who had radiotherapy only as primary treatment and chemotherapy for metastases , died 15 months from diagnosis. One patient who received 60 Gy and ch emotherapy according to the BACON protocol had severe early toxicity a nd severe late sequelae of treatment. Three patients who received chem otherapy according to a modified UICC-2 protocol for nasopharyngeal ca rcinoma and 50 to 54 Gy to the primary site had only mild early toxici ty and mild late effects of treatment. With lower radiation doses, adj usted to the effect of preradiation chemotherapy, complete tumor contr ol was achieved and acute and long-term morbidity reduced. (C) 1997 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.