Chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: an individual patient data meta-analysis of eight randomized trials and 1753 patients.

Objectives: To study the effect of adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT) on overall survival and event-free survival for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: This meta-analysis used updated individual patient data from randomized trials comparing chemotherapy plus RT with RT alone in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The log-rank test, stratified by trial, was used for comparisons, and the hazard ratios of death and failure were calculated.

Estimating the impact of new clinical trial proven cancer therapy and cancer chemoprevention on population mortality: the Karnofsky Memorial lecture.

Purpose: The 31-year "war on cancer" has focused largely on therapeutic (as opposed to preventative) cancer research, which, in both the public and private sector, has received the majority of funding. Meanwhile the prevention of cancer has received less attention.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed eight positive phase III therapeutic trials of the Southwest Oncology Group, and estimated how the observed improvements in survival from the new therapies would impact mortality at the population level (utilizing Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-data).

Treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer: historical and critical review.

Background: Advanced squamous cell cancers of the head and neck have traditionally been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Advances in management have improved outcomes for most of these patients.

Methods: The author reviews the historical progress in management of these difficult tumors and adds his own wide experience to describe and evaluate newer approaches to management.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is usually present as locally advanced (stage III or IV) disease. Before 1980, the primary treatment was radiotherapy. The 5-year survival rate of patients with stage IVM0 across the world was less than 30%.