Late toxicities after intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: patient and treatment-related risk factors

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to analyse the factors affecting late toxicity for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: Seven hundred and eighty-nine consecutive NPC patients treated with IMRT at our centre from January 2003 to February 2008 were retrospectively analysed. Radiotherapy-related complications were categorised using the RTOG Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (Version 3.0). Two hundred and thirty-three patients were treated with IMRT alone (group 1) and 556 patients underwent cisplatin-based chemotherapy (group 2). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 65 months (range, 4–106 months). The 5-year major late toxicity rate was significantly greater in group 2 than group 1 (63.2% vs 42.0%, P<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that N category, T category and chemotherapy were significant factors. The maximal dose (Dmax) to the temporal lobe was a significant factor affecting temporal lobe injury (TLI), with a hazard ratio of 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18–1.35; P<0.001) per 1-Gy increase. The 5-year TLI rate increased from 0.8% for 284 lobes with Dmax <65.77 Gy to 27.1% for 176 lobes with greater doses (P<0.001). Logistic regression showed that the hazard ratio attributed to the parotid gland mean dose was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.21–1.53; P<0.001) per 1-Gy increase. Chemotherapy was not a significant factor (P=0.211). CONCLUSION: With the application of IMRT, the incidence of radiation-related complications has been reduced except for TLI. The significant factors affecting the risk of TLI included T category, chemotherapy and Dmax.