BACKGROUND: To review the treatment outcomes of patients presenting to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: From April 1999 to April 2008, 5 patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma initially presenting with distant metastasis underwent chemotherapy and definitive radiation therapy at our institution. Each patient received platinum-based chemotherapy concurrently with definitive radiotherapy to the primary region and subsequent consolidation radiotherapy to distant metastases. In addition, 2 patients received induction chemotherapy (cisplatin, fluorouracil), and 3 others received adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin, fluorouracil). RESULTS: Of 5 patients initially presenting to our institution with M1 disease, 2 have no evidence of disease as of their last follow-up (29 and 91 months). The remaining 3 patients had progression of disease within 12 months of the start of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term disease-free survival is possible in a select group of patients with M1 disease at presentation treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and definitive radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND: To review the treatment outcomes of patients presenting to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: From April 1999 to April 2008, 5 patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma initially presenting with distant metastasis underwent chemotherapy and definitive radiation therapy at our institution. Each patient received platinum-based chemotherapy concurrently with definitive radiotherapy to the primary region and subsequent consolidation radiotherapy to distant metastases. In addition, 2 patients received induction chemotherapy (cisplatin, fluorouracil), and 3 others received adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin, fluorouracil). RESULTS: Of 5 patients initially presenting to our institution with M1 disease, 2 have no evidence of disease as of their last follow-up (29 and 91 months). The remaining 3 patients had progression of disease within 12 months of the start of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term disease-free survival is possible in a select group of patients with M1 disease at presentation treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and definitive radiotherapy.