Prognostic model for survival of local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma with intensity-modulated radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the main salvage treatment for advanced locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, survival outcomes vary. We aimed to construct a prognostic-score model to identify patients who could benefit from salvage IMRT. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 251 patients with locally recurrent NPC. The following parameters were analysed following IMRT: patient performance status, age, gender, late complications, T-stage of recurrence, synchronous nodal recurrence, primary gross tumour volume (GTV-nx), disease-free interval, re-irradiation dose and chemotherapy. The model was based on the hazard ratio coefficients of six significantly negative prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: Significantly negative prognostic factors included Karnofsky Performance Status ⩽70, age >50 years, late complications, recurrent T(3–4) stage, synchronous nodal recurrence and GTV-nx >30 cm(3). Three subgroups were defined according to model scores: low risk (0–4), intermediate risk (5–8) and high risk (9–15). The 5-year overall survival rates were 64.3%, 32.2% and 7.7%, respectively. The main cause of death was radiation-induced complications. CONCLUSION: The prognostic-score model demonstrated that re-irradiation with IMRT is suitable for low-risk and intermediate-risk patients but may be unsuitable for high-risk patients. Further research into the protection of critical adjacent organs to reduce late complications in these patients is warranted.