The prognosis of the patient in stage 1 is excellent. Nasopharyngeal cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the nasopharynx. Nasopharyngeal cancer center nasopharyngeal cancer is a form of cancer in which malignant cells form in the nasopharynx tissues. Nov 17, 2016 a randomized clinical trial comparing prophylactic upper versus wholeneck irradiation in the treatment of patients with nodenegative nasopharyngeal carcinoma. While radiotherapy rt remains the primary treatment modality with high cure rates for early stage disease, systemic treatment forms an important integral component in the treatment of npc, both in the nonmetastatic as well. Intergroup 0099 established the role for chemoradiotherapy chemort in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Common physical side effects from each treatment option for npc are listed in the types of treatment section. Doctors call this part of cancer treatment palliative care or supportive care. May 15, 2017 epsteinbarr virus is an important cancer causing virus. Nasopharyngeal cancer treatment alberta health services. The nasopharynx is the upper part of the pharynx throat behind the nose. Nasopharyngeal cancer merck manuals professional edition. Ebv based cancer prevention and therapy in nasopharyngeal. The standard treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer is chemotherapy with the drug cisplatin plus radiation therapy, followed by more chemotherapy.
It can be used on its own to treat very earlystage cancers, or in combination with chemotherapy for more advanced cancers. Net offers a lot of information about cancer clinical trials in other areas of the website, including a complete section on clinical trials and places to search for clinical trials for a specific type of cancer. Nasopharyngeal cancer shouldnt be confused with other types of cancer that also affect the throat, such as. Depending on the stage of the cancer, you may get more than 1 of these. Treatment of stage iv nasopharyngeal cancer may include the following.
After nasopharyngeal cancer npc is found and staged, your cancer care team will discuss treatment options choices with you. Nasopharyngeal cancer can be cured properly if it is diagnosed at an early stage. Ethnic background and being exposed to the epsteinbarr virus can affect the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. When feasible, surgery is usually reserved for nodes that fail to regress after radiation therapy or for nodal recurrence following clinical complete response. Epsteinbarr virus is an important cancer causing virus. What is the best treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Tnm stages nasopharyngeal cancer cancer research uk. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc has a unique and complex etiology that is not completely understood. Rare in most parts of the world, the cancer is an epsteinbarr virusassociated malignancy with a remarkable racial and geographical distribution. The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea windpipe and esophagus the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach. Globally, nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc is an uncommon cancer with. In this article, we focus on the current and emerging treatments in nasopharyngeal cancer npc. The type of nasopharyngeal cancer means the type of cell the cancer started in.
Speechlanguage pathologists should be involved in the palliation of dysphagia. A study of customized treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer. Signs of nasopharyngeal cancer include trouble breathing, speaking, or hearing. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians who care for cancer patients. In nasopharyngeal cancer, a metaanalysis of 6 clinical trials including over patients supported the use of cetuximab with radiation therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer who are unable to tolerate cisplatin treatment. Although rare in the us and western europe, it is common in asia and is one of the most common cancers among chinese immigrants in the us, especially those of southern chinese and southeast asian ancestry. Doctors are seeking ways to personalize treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer based on a blood marker called epsteinbarr virus ebv dna. Treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually begins with radiation therapy or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. The eustachian tubes enter the lateral nasopharynx, and the posterior aspect of the orifice creates a protuberance torus tubarius. Practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and followup. Prepostcancer treatment, age, cancer typelocation, postcancer treatment, nasopharyngeal, head and neck cancer, speechvoice, swallowing. For this reason and because the nasopharynx is not easily accessible by surgical means, the mainstay of treatment for both localized head and neck and metastatic spreads beyond the head and neck npc is radiation and drug treatment.
New strategy shows promise for treating nasopharyngeal cancer. Most nasopharyngeal cancers are nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc. A randomized clinical trial comparing prophylactic upper versus wholeneck irradiation in the treatment of patients with nodenegative nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal cancer treatment options include radiation therapy, chemoradiation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma symptoms and causes mayo clinic.
Traditional herbal medicine as adjunctive therapy for. Lee center headed an international study that may lead to improved treatment for people with nasopharyngeal cancer. Risk factors include being of chinese or asian ancestry and exposure to the epsteinbarr virus. These findings probably reflect lifestyle and environmental changes, enhanced understanding of the. It is an important part of your treatment plan, regardless of your age or the stage of disease. If you are diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, your doctor needs to know how aggressive the cancer is, whether it has spread, and if it has, where it has spread in the body. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc is a unique disease endemic in asia.
Nasopharyngeal cancer and the southeast asian patient. Benign nasopharyngeal tumors dont always need treatment. Involvement of the masticator space causes trismus. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment mayo clinic. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc, or nasopharynx cancer, is the most common cancer originating in the nasopharynx, most commonly in the posterolateral nasopharynx or pharyngeal recess fossa of rosenmuller, accounting for 50% of cases. Radiotherapy is the most commonly used treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer. The recommendations contained in this guideline are a consensus of the alberta provincial head and neck tumour team synthesis of currently accepted approaches to management, derived from a. Chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer. Summary people with cancer of the nasopharynx, an area behind the nose, may benefit from a new combination therapy, according to an international study led by memorial sloan kettering radiation.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc is distinct from other cancers of the head and neck. Although npc is rare in most populations, it is a leading form of cancer in a few welldefined populations, including natives of southern china, southeast asia, the arctic, and the middle eastnorth africa. Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare form that grows in the neck and head region, the upper area of the throat and the backside of the nose. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc is a type of head and neck cancer with a distinctive regional and racial prevalence. Oct 23, 2012 in this article, we focus on the current and emerging treatments in nasopharyngeal cancer npc. The standard of care for the treatment of stage i npc is radiotherapy rt, and for.
Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer. Nasopharyngeal cancerstagescausessymptomstreatment. Nasopharyngeal cancer treatments stanford health care. Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is usually administered in a procedure called external. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the nasopharynx. Cancer has spread beyond the nasopharynx and may have spread to the cranial nerves, the hypopharynx bottom part of the throat, areas in and around the side of the skull or jawbone, andor the bone around the eye. Bengu cobanoglu and others published nasopharyngeal cancer. Radiation therapy to the tumor and lymph nodes in the neck.
It starts in the upper part of your throat, behind the nose. The enigmatic epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The distinctive racialethnic and geographic distribution of npc worldwide suggests. Download free pdfs of our nasopharyngeal cancer information.
It is etiologically linked to the epsteinbarr virus and is both radio and chemosensitive. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc world health organization. After cancer treatment, followup speech and swallowing evaluations are suggested as indicated. Knowing these differences help doctors decide on the best treatment. Seom clinical guideline in nasopharynx cancer 2017 ncbi. In addition, you can find a free videobased educational program about cancer clinical trials in another section of this website. This topic discusses the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment mayo. Treatment of stage ii nasopharyngeal cancer may include the following. For many reasons, people do not experience the same side effects even when they are given the same treatment for the same type of cancer.
Find out what the tnm staging system is, and how it is used for nasopharyngeal cancer. Npc differs significantly from other cancers of the head and neck in its occurrence, causes, clinical behavior, and treatment. For the management of abnormal cervical screening tests and cancer precursors. Symptoms and signs of nasopharyngeal cancer include a sore throat, a lump in the neck or nose, trouble hearing, nosebleeds, headaches, and trouble hearing, breathing, or speaking. This helps your doctor decide which treatment you need. You will learn more about coping with the physical, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer and its treatment. Different types of cancer can develop from each type of cell. Eating saltpreserved foods like fish, eggs, leafy vegetables, and roots during early childhood may increase the risk of getting this form of cancer. Treatment options by stage of nasopharyngeal cancer. Prepost cancer treatment, age, cancer typelocation, post cancer treatment, nasopharyngeal, head and neck cancer, speechvoice, swallowing.
Randomized phase ii and phase iii studies of individualized treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on biomarker epstein barr virus ebv deoxyribonucleic acid dna summary there are two study questions we are asking in this randomized phase iiiii trial based on a blood biomarker, epstein barr virus ebv deoxyribonucleic acid dna for. Research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer npc is being done in many university hospitals, medical centers, and other institutions around the world. Evolution of treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer success and setback in the intensitymodulated radiotherapy era. Aug 17, 2018 in the united states, asian immigrants have a higher risk of this type of cancer than do americanborn asians. If you or someone you know has just been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, this short, simple guide can help. The pathology and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are presented elsewhere. Jan 19, 2019 nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare form that grows in the neck and head region, the upper area of the throat and the backside of the nose. Nasopharyngeal cancer npc in children is treated largely the same way as npc in adults. One type called imrt delivers highdose radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing damage to nearby.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma npc is a rare malig nant tumor arising from epithelial cells of the nasopharynx. Radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove cancer containing lymph nodes in the neck that remain or come back after radiation therapy. Diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children. Nasopharyngeal cancer can occur at any age, but its most commonly diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. Nasopharyngeal cancer symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Its important to weigh the benefits of each treatment option against the possible risks and side effects. Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the part of the throat connecting the back of the nose to the back of the mouth the pharynx. Depending on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and other factors, your treatment options may include. Advances in systemic treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the uk, about 250 people are diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer each year. Cancer may also have spread to one or more lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck andor to. Successful treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer using. Npc is highly sensitive to both radiation treatment and many forms of drug chemotherapy treatment.
The stage of a cancer tells you where it is, how big it is and whether it has spread. What is the recommended followup after treatment for npc. Among multiple treatments, intensitymodulated radiotherapy imrt is the current standard of treatment for npc achieving good tumor coverage and healthy. If youve been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer npc, your treatment team will discuss your options with you. The treatment options and prognosis chance of recovery depend on the stage of the cancer whether it affects part of the nasopharynx, involves the whole nasopharynx, or has spread to other places in the body, the type of nasopharyngeal cancer, the size of the tumor, and the patients age and general health. Longterm outcome and pattern of failure for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensitymodulated radiotherapy. About nasopharyngeal cancer what is nasopharyngeal cancer. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is an infectionrelated cancer strongly driven by epsteinbarr virus. The epsteinbarr virus may also make a person more likely to get nasopharyngeal cancer. Current and emerging treatment options for nasopharyngeal. D r d e e p i k a m a l i k j r i i i, d e p a r t m e n t o f r a d i a t i o n o n c o l o g y m g i m s, s e v a g r a m nasopharyngeal carcinoma 2. Commentary current treatment landscape of nasopharyngeal. Get detailed information about the treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer in this summary for clinicians.
Your cancer care team will recommend treatment options depending on the stage the extent of the cancer in the nasopharynx and if and how far the cancer has spread. Treatment results of 165 pediatric patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal cancer is a form of cancer in which malignant cells form in the nasopharynx tissues. It is usually part of the standard treatment for early stage nasopharyngeal cancer. Stages of nasopharyngeal cancer stanford health care. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is characterised by distinct geographical distribution and is particularly prevalent in east and southeast asia. Highdose radiation therapy with chemotherapy is the primary treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer, both for the primary tumor site and the neck. Inuits in alaska also have an increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Nasopharyngeal cancer can occur in any age group, including adolescents, and is common in the south china sea region. It differs from other head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in epidemiology, histology, natural history, and response to treatment. According to statistics available from the american cancer society, the survival rates for nasopharyngeal cancer are noted in different stages in the study done in 19981999. For metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, recommended firstline treatment is cisplatin and fluorouracil, or cisplatin doublet regimen and recommended secondline treatment is gemcitabine, taxane, and fluorouracil analogue. Rosenmuellers fossa is posterior to the torus tubarius and is the number 1. Every cancer treatment can cause side effects or changes to your body and how you feel. The determination of stages in nasopharyngeal cancer is of utmost importance because the treatment and the prognosis depend on this. Stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer is divided into stages iva, ivb, and ivc. Epidemiological trends in the past decade have shown that its incidence has declined gradually but progressively, and mortality has been reduced substantially.
1156 37 629 60 505 1051 61 49 533 156 1463 1445 992 1387 418 799 720 1252 199 1463 168 1501 1383 1375 642 142 1402 561 983 1034 557 641 16 317 913 1454 433 1111 715 173 1168 11