In the IMRT era, patients with stage II-III (AJCC8th) nasopharyngeal carcinoma achieve high local control. However, survivors are increasingly experiencing late radiation-induced toxicities. A previous study found that reducing the radiation dose to the primary site to 60Gy for patients who achieved partial or complete response to induction chemotherapy resulted in a lower rate of late toxicities and an inferior local control rate. The investigators aim to reduce the radiation dose to the primary site for patients after immunochemotherapy, given the potential of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy to increase response rates and long-term survival. The protocol includes participants with stage II-III (AJCC8th), except T2N0M0, to receive three courses of neoadjuvant gemcitabine plus cisplatin and Toripalimab. If the primary tumour regresses by over 75%, de-escalated radiotherapy with 60Gy will be administered, and participants will receive two cycles of cisplatin and three cycles of Toripalimab during the radiotherapy course. Otherwise, participants will receive conventional radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin for two cycles as usual. The aim of this study is to investigate the 3-year local control rate and toxicities of de-escalated radiotherapy.
Pathologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma, patients who have not received anti-cancer therapy;
ECOG performance status score (PS score) 0 or 1.
18-70 years old.
Stage II-III except T2N0M0 (AJCC 8th).
Over the age of 70 or under the age of 18.
HBsAg positive and HBV DNA ≥ 1 × 10^3 copies/ml
HCV antibody positive.
Subjects with active, known or suspected autoimmune diseases were excluded from the study. Eligible participants included those with type 1 diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism requiring only hormone replacement therapy, and skin conditions that do not require systemic therapy such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia.
Sequential
de-escalated radiotherapy
RadiationEnrolled patients receive three courses of induction therapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, along with Toripalimab. After induction therapy, patients with a tumor volume regression of 75% or more and no detectable EBV DNA will receive de-escalated radiotherapy for the primary tumor with 60 Gy. During radiotherapy, patients will receive Cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every three weeks for two courses and Toripalimab 240 mg every three weeks for three courses. If patients do not achieve complete remission at the end of radiotherapy, 6 Gy will be added to the residual lesions.
conventional radiotherapy
RadiationEnrolled patients receive three courses of induction therapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, along with Toripalimab. After induction therapy, patients with tumor volume regression less than 75% or EBV DNA copy number higher than 0 receive conventional radiotherapy for the primary tumor with 70 Gy. Patients will receive Cisplatin 100 mg/m2, every three weeks for two courses during radiotherapy.
local recurrence rate(LRR)
Defined as the proportion of patients with local recurrence within 3 years
primary tumor volume regression≥75% rate
3-year overall survival
acute and late radiation-induced toxicities
complete response rate of primary tumor
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