[Radiotherapy of carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Results and analysis of prognostic factors]

Abstract

Radiation therapy of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma results in permanent loco-regional control in 55-100% of cases according to stage of disease. Five-year overall survival rates range 30-55% and 5-year disease-free survival 30-40%. Factors affecting survival are: sex, age, overall patient conditions, Epstein-Barr associated antibodies, histology, T and N stages, cranial nerve and neck nodes involvement, staging method, dose and fractionation of radiation therapy, and adjuvant treatment. Our results in 94 patients can be summarized as follows: 78.4% local control, 89.8% control of lymph nodes clinically palpable at diagnosis, 40% overall 5-year survival, and 38% 5-year disease-free survival. Significant prognostic factors in our series of patients were T and N stages and histology.