Treatment methods and prospects for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common head and neck malignant tumor in my country. Radiotherapy is the main radical treatment method and has been used in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma for more than 80 years. By the end of the last century, the 5-year overall survival rate after nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment had reached 60%. With the widespread use of CT simulation and 3D treatment planning systems, the level of radiotherapy has been improved again, and the 5-year survival rate of patients has increased again. In the mid-to-late 1990s, the birth and development of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technology made the shape of the high-dose area of ​​the radiotherapy plan consistent with the shape of the tumor target area, thereby better protecting the normal tissues and organs around the tumor and benefiting more nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Chemotherapy is another effective means of treating NPC. Combining it with radiotherapy can further improve the treatment effect of NPC. Currently, chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy include induction chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy after radiotherapy. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced NPC. Many studies have shown that concurrent chemotherapy during radiotherapy can significantly improve the radiosensitivity of tumor tissue and increase the efficacy of radiotherapy; adjuvant chemotherapy after radiotherapy is beneficial to reduce distant metastasis and recurrence rates.

Molecular targeted therapy is a breakthrough and revolutionary development in cancer treatment in the 21st century, and represents the development direction of cancer treatment. Radiotherapy combined with molecular targeted therapy can significantly improve the local control rate and survival rate of nasopharyngeal patients and prolong the survival time of patients.

In short, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a curable malignant tumor. The combined application of existing treatment methods has greatly improved the treatment effect. With the continuous development of radiotherapy technology, the continuous emergence of molecular targeted drugs and the continuous advancement of chemotherapy drugs, the treatment prospects of nasopharyngeal carcinoma will definitely become brighter and brighter.