S-1 Combined With IMRT Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

This study is a prospective phase II trial which is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IMRT combined with S-1 CCRT for locally advanced NPC. Eligibility criteria include histologically confirmed locally advanced NPC according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging System (the eighth edition); Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1; at least one measurable lesion based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria 1.1; normal complete blood count (white blood cell counts ≥4×1012/L, hemoglobin level ≥100g/L and platelet counts ≥100×1012/L), normal hepatic function (total bilirubin level ≤1.5 mg/dl, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels ≤1.5 times the upper limit of normal) and normal renal function (creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal). Prior induction chemotherapy with platinum was allowed.

Exclusion criteria include previous radiotherapy, a history of any other type of malignancy; pregnancy or lactation; allergy to S-1; obvious dysfunction of liver, renal, cardiac or lung function; uncontrolled infection; systemic metastasis or distant metastasis; patients with severe gastrointestinal diseases, and patients with mental disorders affecting patient participation in trial judgement.

The full-set pretreatment evaluation will be performed to every patient.All patients in this study will receive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). During the IMRT course, S-1 will be administered orally according to body surface area (BSA<1.25m2, 30mg; BSA: 1.25-1.5m2, 40mg; BSA>1.5m2, 50mg).The dose modifications of S-1 will not be permitted during concurrent chemotherapy unless progression of the disease, toxicities of grade 4 or patient's refusal.

Adverse events (AEs) will be evaluated every week during CCRT based on the evaluation criteria of adverse reactions of CTCAE V4.0. Tumor response is assessed at the end of CCRT according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria 1.1. Radiation-related acute and late toxicities are graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Late toxicities are evaluated beyond three months from the end of radiotherapy.

After the completion of CCRT, all patients will be followed up every 3 months during the first years, every 6 months for the following 2-5 years, and annually thereafter. Local recurrence is confirmed by nasopharynx MRI or histological biopsy. Regional recurrence is confirmed by fine needle aspiration or surgical biopsy. Distant metastases is detected by imaging examinations including PET-CT, bone Emission Computed Tomography (ECT), CT, MRI or confirmed by histological confirmation of biopsy.