Role of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare type of tumor which arises from the surface and lining epithelium of nasopharynx. Management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the greatest clinical challenges but it is radiosensitive and chemosensitive; excellent tumor control can be attained with radiotherapy with or without adjuvant therapies concurrent chemoradiation therapy. This review will focus on role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma on disease free survival (DFS), distant metastases free survival and overall survival (OS) and systemic toxicities, indications and choice and number of cycles of regimen for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
 

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Nasopharynx, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy, CCRT, NPC