-
The British Journal of Radiology Oct 2019The prevalence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is characterized by an unbalanced distribution: the disease is particularly prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. In this... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is characterized by an unbalanced distribution: the disease is particularly prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. In this article, we review the evolution of the International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. With the increasing using of newer imaging methods, more advanced radiotherapy techniques and systemic chemotherapy, we also discuss newer clinical features that might affect staging. Finally, we propose the future direction of staging and potential prognostic factors that have a major influence on the treatment outcomes of this disease.
Topics: Cervical Vertebrae; Forecasting; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Lymph Nodes; Lymphatic Metastasis; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Parotid Neoplasms; Spinal Neoplasms
PubMed: 31298937
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20190244 -
JAMA Aug 2022Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been the standard treatment for stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on data using 2-dimensional conventional radiotherapy.... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Radiotherapy Alone vs Radiotherapy With Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy on Survival Without Disease Relapse in Patients With Low-risk Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
IMPORTANCE
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy has been the standard treatment for stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on data using 2-dimensional conventional radiotherapy. There is limited evidence for the role of chemotherapy with use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether concurrent chemotherapy can be safely omitted for patients with low-risk stage II/T3N0 NPC treated with IMRT.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This multicenter, open-label, randomized, phase 3, noninferiority clinical trial was conducted at 5 Chinese hospitals, including 341 adult patients with low-risk NPC, defined as stage II/T3N0M0 without adverse features (all nodes <3 cm, no level IV/Vb nodes; no extranodal extension; Epstein-Barr virus DNA <4000 copies/mL), with enrollment between November 2015 and August 2020. The final date of follow-up was March 15, 2022.
INTERVENTIONS
Patients were randomly assigned to receive IMRT alone (n = 172) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IMRT with cisplatin, 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for 3 cycles [n = 169]).
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary end point was 3-year failure-free survival (time from randomization to any disease relapse or death), with a noninferiority margin of 10%. Secondary end points comprised overall survival, locoregional relapse-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, adverse events, and health-related quality of life (QOL) measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30; range, 0-100 points; minimum clinically important difference ≥10 for physical function, symptom control, or health-related QOL; higher score indicates better functioning and global health status or worse symptoms).
RESULTS
Among 341 randomized patients (mean [SD] age, 48 [10] years; 30% women), 334 (98.0%) completed the trial. Median follow-up was 46 months (IQR, 34-58). Three-year failure-free survival was 90.5% for the IMRT-alone group vs 91.9% for the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (difference, -1.4%; 1-sided 95% CI, -7.4% to ∞; P value for noninferiority, <.001). No significant differences were observed between groups in overall survival, locoregional relapse, or distant metastasis. The IMRT-alone group experienced a significantly lower incidence of grade 3 to 4 adverse events (17% vs 46%; difference, -29% [95% CI, -39% to -20%]), including hematologic toxicities (leukopenia, neutropenia) and nonhematologic toxicities (nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, mucositis). The IMRT-alone group had significantly better QOL scores during radiotherapy including the domains of global health status, social functioning, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, appetite loss, and constipation.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Among patients with low-risk NPC, treatment with IMRT alone resulted in 3-year failure-free survival that was not inferior to concurrent chemoradiotherapy.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02633202.
Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Chemoradiotherapy; Cisplatin; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
PubMed: 35997729
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.13997 -
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Sep 2023Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is distinct in its anatomic location and biology from other epithelial head and neck cancer (HNC). There are 3 WHO subtypes, which... (Review)
Review
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is distinct in its anatomic location and biology from other epithelial head and neck cancer (HNC). There are 3 WHO subtypes, which considers the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and other histopathology features. Despite the survival benefit obtained from modern treatment modalities and techniques specifically in the local and locally advanced setting, a number of patients with this disease will recur and subsequently die of distant metastasis, locoregional relapse, or both. In the recurrent setting, the ideal therapy approach continues to be a topic of discussion and current recommendations are platinum-based combination chemotherapy. Phase III clinical trials which led to the approval of pembrolizumab or nivolumab for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) specifically excluded NPC. No immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, to date, has been approved by the FDA to treat NPC although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations do include use of these agents. Hence, this remains the major challenge for treatment options. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is challenging as it is really 3 different diseases, and much research is required to determine best options and sequencing of those options. This article is going to address the data to date and discuss ongoing research in EBV + and EBV - inoperable recurrent/metastatic NPC patients.
Topics: Humans; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37318724
DOI: 10.1007/s11864-023-01101-3 -
Theranostics 2023Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a particular entity of head neck cancer that is generally regarded as a genetic disease with diverse intertumor and intratumor... (Review)
Review
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a particular entity of head neck cancer that is generally regarded as a genetic disease with diverse intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity. This perspective review mainly outlines the up-to-date knowledge of cancer ecology and NPC progression, and presents a number of conceptual stepping-stones. At the beginning, I explicitly advocate that the nature of NPC (cancer) is not a genetic disease but an ecological disease: a multidimensional spatiotemporal "unity of ecology and evolution" pathological ecosystem. The hallmarks of cancer is proposed to act as ecological factors of population fitness. Subsequently, NPC cells are described as invasive species and its metastasis as a multidirectional ecological dispersal. The foundational ecological principles include intraspecific relationship (e.g. communication) and interspecific relationship (e.g. competition, predation, parasitism and mutualism) are interpreted to understand NPC progression. "Mulberry-fish-ponds" model can well illustrate the dynamic reciprocity of cancer ecosystem. Tumor-host interface is the ecological transition zone of cancer, and tumor buddings should be recognized as ecological islands separated from the mainland. It should be noted that tumor-host interface has a significantly molecular and functional edge effect because of its curvature and irregularity. Selection driving factors and ecological therapy including hyperthermia for NPC patients, and future perspectives in such field as "ecological pathology", "multidimensional tumoriecology" are also discussed. I advance that "nothing in cancer evolution or ecology makes sense except in the light of the other". The cancer ecology tree is constructed to comprehensively point out the future research direction. Taken together, the establishment of NPC ecology theory and cancer ecology tree might provide a novel conceptual framework and paradigm for our understanding of cancer complex causal process and potential preventive and therapeutic applications for patients.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37056571
DOI: 10.7150/thno.82690 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Aug 2017Circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We conducted a prospective study to investigate whether EBV DNA in plasma... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Circulating cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We conducted a prospective study to investigate whether EBV DNA in plasma samples would be useful to screen for early nasopharyngeal carcinoma in asymptomatic persons.
METHODS
We analyzed EBV DNA in plasma specimens to screen participants who did not have symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Participants with initially positive results were retested approximately 4 weeks later, and those with persistently positive EBV DNA in plasma underwent nasal endoscopic examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
RESULTS
A total of 20,174 participants underwent screening. EBV DNA was detectable in plasma samples obtained from 1112 participants (5.5%), and 309 (1.5% of all participants and 27.8% of those who initially tested positive) had persistently positive results on the repeated sample. Among these 309 participants, 300 underwent endoscopic examination, and 275 underwent both endoscopic examination and MRI; of these participants, 34 had nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A significantly higher proportion of participants with nasopharyngeal carcinoma that was identified by screening had stage I or II disease than in a historical cohort (71% vs. 20%, P<0.001 by the chi-square test) and had superior 3-year progression-free survival (97% vs. 70%; hazard ratio, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.18). Nine participants declined to undergo further testing, and 1 of them presented with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma 32 months after enrollment. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma developed in only 1 participant with negative EBV DNA in plasma samples within 1 year after testing. The sensitivity and specificity of EBV DNA in plasma samples in screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma were 97.1% and 98.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of EBV DNA in plasma samples was useful in screening for early asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was detected significantly earlier and outcomes were better in participants who were identified by screening than in those in a historical cohort. (Funded by the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong government; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02063399 .).
Topics: Adult; Age Distribution; Carcinoma; Cohort Studies; DNA, Viral; Disease-Free Survival; Early Detection of Cancer; Endemic Diseases; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Neoplasm Staging; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Viral Load
PubMed: 28792880
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1701717 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Oct 2010With the improvement in local control achieved by more precise imaging and radiotherapy, the predominant mode of failure for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is distant... (Review)
Review
With the improvement in local control achieved by more precise imaging and radiotherapy, the predominant mode of failure for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is distant metastases. Concurrent cisplatin-radiotherapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment approach for stages IIB and above disease. The addition of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been most promising, and phase III trial results are awaited. Quantitative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA can be applied clinically for disease monitoring and follow-up, and may in future be used for risk stratification strategies. Targeted therapies against epidermal growth factor receptor and angiogenesis have demonstrated activity, and immunotherapeutic approaches are being investigated.
Topics: Carcinoma; Combined Modality Therapy; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Neoplasm Metastasis; Recurrence
PubMed: 20943634
DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdq277 -
EBioMedicine Aug 2021Induction chemotherapy (ICT) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and CCRT alone were the optional treatment regimens in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal...
BACKGROUND
Induction chemotherapy (ICT) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and CCRT alone were the optional treatment regimens in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Currently, the choice of them remains equivocal in clinical practice. We aimed to develop a deep learning-based model for treatment decision in NPC.
METHODS
A total of 1872 patients with stage T3N1M0 NPC were enrolled from four Chinese centres and received either ICT+CCRT or CCRT. A nomogram was constructed for predicting the prognosis of patients with different treatment regimens using multi-task deep learning radiomics and pre-treatment MR images, based on which an optimal treatment regimen was recommended. Model performance was assessed by the concordance index (C-index) and the Kaplan-Meier estimator.
FINDINGS
The nomogram showed excellent prognostic ability for disease-free survival in both the CCRT (C-index range: 0.888-0.921) and ICT+CCRT (C-index range: 0.784-0.830) groups. According to the prognostic difference between treatments using the nomogram, patients were divided into the ICT-preferred and CCRT-preferred groups. In the ICT-preferred group, patients receiving ICT+CCRT exhibited prolonged survival over those receiving CCRT in the internal and external test cohorts (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.17, p<0.001 and 0.24, p=0.02); while the trend was opposite in the CCRT-preferred group (HR: 6.24, p<0.001 and 12.08, p<0.001). Similar results for treatment decision using the nomogram were obtained in different subgroups stratified by clinical factors and MR acquisition parameters.
INTERPRETATION
Our nomogram could predict the prognosis of T3N1M0 NPC patients with different treatment regimens and accordingly recommend an optimal treatment regimen, which may serve as a potential tool for promoting personalized treatment of NPC.
FUNDING
National Key R&D Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, Strategic Priority Research Program of CAS, Project of High-Level Talents Team Introduction in Zhuhai City, Beijing Natural Science Foundation, Beijing Nova Program, Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Clinical Decision-Making; Deep Learning; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Nomograms; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
PubMed: 34391094
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103522 -
Chinese Clinical Oncology Apr 2016It is becoming increasingly evident that aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are responsible for a number of disease processes, including cancer initiation and... (Review)
Review
It is becoming increasingly evident that aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are responsible for a number of disease processes, including cancer initiation and progression. miRNAs have been implicated as key players in numerous neoplasms, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Functionally, deregulation of miRNAs that act either as tumour suppressors or oncogenes results in numerous cancer-associated phenomena, including changes in proliferation, migration, and cell survival. Furthermore, miRNA expression has been associated with chemoresistant or radioresistant phenotypes; highlighting the importance of miRNAs in mediating oncogenic processes. Prognostic and predictive miRNA signatures have been defined for a variety of cancer types, including NPC, whereby these signatures offer a potentially important clinical tool for assessing the disease state, as well as predicting treatment response and clinical outcome. Therefore, further examination and validation of miRNAs that are deregulated in NPC will provide insight into the fundamental drivers of this disease, which will aid in the identification of novel targeted treatments. This review summarizes recent advances in the study of miRNAs in NPC, with specific discussion on the role of miRNAs in NPC pathogenesis and the potential utility of miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers. Our increasing understanding of the role of miRNAs in NPC tumorigenesis and their application as novel biomarkers will undoubtedly prove useful in the stratification of future patients into clinically relevant treatment classifications, thereby improving and personalizing disease management.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; MicroRNAs; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Prognosis; RNA, Small Untranslated
PubMed: 27121877
DOI: 10.21037/cco.2016.03.09 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2015Nasopharyngeal cancer is endemic in a few well-defined populations. The prognosis for advanced nasopharyngeal cancer is poor, but early-stage disease is curable and a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Nasopharyngeal cancer is endemic in a few well-defined populations. The prognosis for advanced nasopharyngeal cancer is poor, but early-stage disease is curable and a high survival rate can be achieved. Screening for early-stage disease could lead to improved outcomes. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology and nasopharyngoscopy are most commonly used for screening. The efficacy and true benefit of screening remain uncertain due to potential selection, lead-time and length-time biases.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the effectiveness of screening of asymptomatic individuals by EBV serology and/or nasopharyngoscopy in reducing the mortality of nasopharyngeal cancer compared to no screening. To assess the impact of screening for nasopharyngeal cancer on incidence, survival, adverse effects, cost-effectiveness and quality of life.
SEARCH METHODS
The Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group (CENTDG) Trials Search Co-ordinator searched the CENTDG Trials Register; Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2015, Issue 6); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; Clinicaltrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the search was 6 July 2015.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) evaluating screening for nasopharyngeal cancer versus no screening. Randomisation either by clusters or individuals was acceptable.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used the standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Our primary outcome measure was nasopharyngeal cancer-specific mortality. Secondary outcomes were incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer by stage and histopathological classification at diagnosis, survival (two-year, three-year, five-year and 10-year), harms of screening (physical and psychosocial), quality of life (via validated tools such as the SF-36 and patient satisfaction), cost-effectiveness and all-cause mortality.
MAIN RESULTS
We identified no trials that met the review inclusion criteria. We retrieved 31 full-text studies for further investigation following the search. However, none met the eligibility criteria for a RCT or CCT investigation on the efficacy of screening for nasopharyngeal cancer.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
No data from RCTs or CCTs are available to allow us to determine the efficacy of screening for nasopharyngeal cancer, or the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of a screening strategy. High-quality studies with long-term follow-up of mortality and cost-effectiveness are needed.
Topics: Asymptomatic Diseases; Carcinoma; Early Detection of Cancer; Endoscopy; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Mass Screening; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 26544798
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008423.pub2 -
Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai... Apr 2022The purpose of this article was to discuss the clinical features and imaging characteristics of IgG4-related disease(IgG4-RD) in order to identify nasopharyngeal...
The purpose of this article was to discuss the clinical features and imaging characteristics of IgG4-related disease(IgG4-RD) in order to identify nasopharyngeal IgG4-RD at an early stage. The basic information of the patients, including age, sex, symptoms, disease duration and treatment process, was collected through the electronic case system. Laboratory tests including nasal endoscopy, EBV levels, IgG4 levels and C-reactive protein levels were recorded during hospitalization and outpatient follow-up. All radiological imaging and postoperative pathology data are collected, analyzed and summarized. All patients underwent partial excisional biopsy of the lesion. The pathological findings showed inflammatory granulomatous and fibrous tissue hyperplasia with a high infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells and neutrophils, and immunohistochemistry examination showed IgG4+ plasma cells were more than 10 per high magnification field. Combining medical history, imaging, serological findings and relevant treatment, all four patients were diagnosed with IgG4-associated disease. And their symptoms improved significantly after hormonal and immunosuppressive treatment. IgG4-RD has a highly similar clinical presentation with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Differentiation from IgG4-RD should be considered for those pathology cannot be clarified by multiple biopsies. Timely diagnosis of IgG4-RD is important to prevent secondary organ damage in patients with active disease.
Topics: Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Plasma Cells
PubMed: 35511623
DOI: 10.13201/j.issn.2096-7993.2022.04.011