Cisplatin and RT With or Without Gemcitabine, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced NPC
Head and Neck Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Head and Neck Cancer focused on measuring stage III lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx, stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, stage IV lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx, stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Patients are eligible for inclusion if all of the following criteria are fulfilled:
- Have given written informed consent, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn at any time without prejudice.
- Loco-regional advanced NPC UICC (1997) Stages T3 - 4 any N, or any Stage T, N2 - 3.
- A histological diagnosis of WHO Type II or III NPC must have been established at some time and the investigator must review and confirm the diagnosis prior to randomization.
- No evidence of distant metastases in staging work up (including lung, liver and bone imaging).
- Cross sectional imaging of the primary and neck disease (MRI preferred)
- Evaluable disease must be present.
- Performance status of ECOG grade 0 or 1 (see Appendix I).
- No prior tumour therapy
Adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic function:
Bone marrow : WBC > 3000 / mm3 (ANC > 1500 / mm3 ),
- Platelets > 100 000 / mm3,
- Hb > 10 gm/dl Renal : serum creatinine within institutional normal range (or) lower than the lower limit of institutional normal range
- calculated creatinine clearance > 50 ml / min Hepatic : enzymes (SAP, SGOT) < 2x normal
- bilirubin < 24 µmol / l.
- At least 18 years of age, of either sex.
Exclusion criteria:
Patients are to be excluded from the study if any of the following criteria is fulfilled:
- Uncontrolled hypercalcaemia: calcium ≥ 2.7 mmol/L (10.8 mg/dL).
- Second primary malignancy (except in situ carcinoma of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin).
- Other serious concomitant systemic disorders incompatible with the study (at the discretion of the investigator).
- Have serious active infection.
- Hepatitis B carrier
- Prior treatment including chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- Pregnant or lactating female subjects and subjects with reproductive potential not implementing adequate contraceptive measures.
Sites / Locations
- National Cancer Centre - Singapore
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Arm I
Arm II
Patients receive cisplatin IV over 2 hours once weekly on weeks 1-8 and undergo intensity-modulated radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, on weeks 1-7 (6½ weeks for a total of 33 fractions).
Patients receive induction chemotherapy comprising gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes, carboplatin IV over 1 hour, and paclitaxel IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 3 courses. Beginning at least 3 weeks after the last dose of induction chemotherapy, patients receive cisplatin and undergo radiotherapy as in arm I.