Current management and perspectives for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis is often made at a locally advanced stage (75 to 90% of cases) due to its deep localization. Concomitant radio-chemotherapy is the cornerstone of the treatment of locally advanced forms. The advent of intensity-modulated radiotherapy has improved oncological outcomes and reduced toxicity and is currently the gold standard for irradiation technique. For the locally advanced stage, the addition of induction chemotherapy has become the new standard care according to the latest international recommendations to reduce tumor volumes and act early on micro-metastases. Despite these therapeutic advances, the local and especially distant failure rate remains high. This article reviews current treatment strategies and discuss new approaches and perspectives of locoregional and systemic treatment to reduce treatment failures.(c) 2022 Societe franc , aise de radiotherapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.