De-intensified chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on plasma EBV DNA: A phase 2 randomized noninferiority trial.
Authors: Mai Hai-Qiang , Li Xiao Yun , Mo Hao-Yuan , Ling Guo , Luo Dong-Hua , Sun Rui , Liu LiTing , Guo Shan-Shan , Yang Jin-Hao , Sun Xue-Song , Tang Qing-Nan , Wang Pan , Li Ji-Bin , Yang Qi , Liu Sai-Lan , Liang Yu-Jing , Yan Jin-Jie , Chen Qiu-Yan , Tang Lin-Quan 
Published: June 2021

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Background: The cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), given at a dose of 100 mg/m2 for 3 cycles during radiotherapy, is the major treatment for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). As several retrospective studies showed that receiving a cumulative cisplatin dose of 200 mg/m2 can bring survival benefits to NPC patients, we sought to test the non-inferiority of 2-cycle concurrent cisplatin over 3-cycle in locoregionally advanced NPC with Epstein-barr virus (EBV) DNA levels < 4000 copies/ml. Methods: We did a non-inferiority, phase 2, randomised controlled trial. Patients were enrolled with stage III–IVB NPC, EBV DNA levels < 4000 copies/ml, aged 18–70 and adequate haematological, renal, and hepatic function. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 2 or 3 cycles of cisplatin-based CCRT. Patients in the 2-cycle group were scheduled to receive 100 mg/m2 cisplatin given every 3 weeks concurrently with radiotherapy, and patients in the 3-cycle group received 100 mg/m2 cisplatin given every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. Randomization was done by a computer-generated random number code with a block size of six, stratified by clinical stage III or IV. The primary endpoint was 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), with a non-inferiority margin of 10%. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, ID. NCT02871518. Results: Between September 2016 and October 2018, 342 patients were enrolled, of whom 332 were randomly assigned to receive 2 or 3 cycles of cisplatin. 314 (94.6%) patients completed protocol-defined cycles of chemotherapy. After median follow-up of 33.6 months, 20 (12.0%) patients in the 2-cycle group and 17 (10.2%) patients in the 3-cycle group had tumor progression, and the 3-year PFS rates were 88.0% and 90.4% respectively, with a difference of 2.4% (95%CI -4.3 to 9.1, Pnon-inferiority < 0.001). In the per-protocol analysis, 3-year PFS was 88.5% in the 2-cycle group and 90.6% in the 3-cycle group, with a difference of 2.1% (95% CI –4.7 to 8.9; Pnon-inferiority= 0.001). No significant difference was observed concerning OS, LRRFS and DMFS. The grade 3 or 4 acute adverse events were recorded in 113 (68.1%) patients in the 2-cycle group and 116 (69.9%) patients in the 3-cycle group. Patients in the 3-cycle group was observed to have significantly more hyponatremia. Besides, patients in the 3-cycle group presented with more grade 1 or 2 dry mouth, dysphagia, weight loss, fatigue, constipation, fever, mucositis and dermatitis. More grade 3 or 4 anorexia, mucositis and dermatitis were also recorded in the 3-cycle group. No patients died from treatment-related toxicities. Conclusions: IMRT plus 2 cycles of concurrent 100 mg/m2 cisplatin could be an alternative option for patients with low-risk locoregionally advanced NPC. Further phase III studies are needed to validate the findings of this study. Clinical trial information: NCT02871518.