Locoregional radiotherapy in metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer – Review article of recent trials

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has a high prevalence in Southeast Asian regions and up to 80% of patients present with locally advanced disease. Almost 10% present with distant metastases, associated with unfavorable outcomes and poor prognosis. With the advent of newer radiotherapy techniques and systemic therapy, a good cure can be achieved in early and locally advanced diseases. However, the mainstay of treatment in metastatic NPC remains to be only palliative chemotherapy. Recently various studies have been conducted to validate the role of local radiotherapy in the locoregional site in a metastatic setting along with systemic therapy. Hence, here, we present a review of the literature supporting the addition of radiotherapy to the locoregional site in metastatic NPC.