[Induction polychemotherapy before radiotherapy in carcinoma of the cavum. The experience of the Ibn Rochd-Casablanca Oncology Centre].

Abstract

This study is an analysis of the induction chemotherapy contribution in non metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Three chemotherapy cycles ("modified BEC" or not BEC, BEC: bleomycin-épirubicin-cisplatinum,) were delivered before irradiation in 90 patients. The rate of objective response was 57%. The chemotherapy response was better in patients no more than 35 year age, presenting with UCNT and not T4 or N3. Meanwhile, the chemotherapy protocol did not influence the response. The irradiation allowed the sterilization of 51 tumours and 49 of which were in satisfying response after chemotherapy. The sterilization by radiotherapy was influenced by the same factors as chemotherapy. The evolution showed 7 locoregional recurrences, 7 metastatic recurrences, and 2 patients presented with locoregional and metastatic recurrences. According to the Kaplan and Meier method, survival at 36 months was 61%. It was influenced by the same factors as chemotherapy and radiotherapy responses. The determining factor was indeed the chemotherapy response.