[Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)-radiation therapy of an advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Between November 1983 and May 1985, 11 patients with locally advanced (stage IV) nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated using a combination of Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum and radiation therapy (CDDP-RT group). In this group, 7 patients were given radical RT, sandwiched between 1 course of CDDP (70 mg/m2) before and 1 after. Four patients were given 1 course of CDDP prior to RT. Treatment results were compared with 32 patients (stage IV) who were treated with radiation therapy alone (RT group). These groups showed almost the same local control rate and distant relapses. There was no significant difference in the actuarial and relapse-free survival between the CDDP-RT group and the RT group. As a side effect, severe mucositis of the oral cavity was observed in 4 patients (36%) of the CDDP-RT group in contrast with 3 patients (9%) of the RT group (p less than 0.05).