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.