Radiofrequency ablation combined with systemic chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma liver metastases improves response to treatment and survival outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Systemic chemotherapy is the major treatment modality for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) liver metastases. We investigated the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment, which has not been well explored in this disease. METHODS: One-hundred and thirty-four cases of NPC with liver metastases treated with chemotherapy, chemotherapy with RFA, or RFA alone were retrospectively analyzed. Patient survival was evaluated by the log-rank test. Survival was analyses using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox multivariate analyses of clinicopathological features and different treatment approaches were conducted. RESULTS: Local response rates were 58% in the RFA group, 78% in the chemotherapy group and 93% in the chemotherapy with RFA group (P < 0.001). Increased progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were observed in the chemotherapy with RFA group (P < 0.001). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that the number of liver metastases (1 vs. >1), the dimension of the largest liver metastases (≤3 cm vs. >3 cm), evaluation of treatment (response vs. no response) and disease-free survival (≤12 months vs. >12 months) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: RFA combined with chemotherapy is a promising treatment for NPC metastatic liver disease with improved local response, PFS, and OS compared to current chemotherapy protocols.