Bevacizumab plus cisplatin and helical tomotherapy in treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: In recent years, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted drugs have been respectively used in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In our research, we combined all of them for better curative effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with histologically confirmed stage III~IV (without distant metastasis) nasopharyngeal carcinoma were recruited between December 2013 and October 2014 with strict eligibility requirements and exclusion criteria. Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg, 80 mg/m(2) cisplatin and 67.5 Gy radiotherapy (helical tomotherapy [TOMO]) was given according to standard treatment protocols. RESULTS: After 3 months, 24 complete responses (80%) and six partial responses (40%) were observed in our research. Twenty-four patients (80%) experienced oropharyngeal mucositis, 26% patients experienced weight loss caused by pharyngeal pain and dysphagia caused by oropharyngeal mucositis. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab plus cisplatin and TOMO in treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma can increase curative effects with low side effects and toxicities.