Intensity-modulated radiotherapy plus nimotuzumab with or without concurrent chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Characteristic	Number of patients
Total	50
Gender
Male	40
Female	10
Age, years
Median	53
Range	17–74
>50	20
≤50	30
Clinical T category
T1	3
T2	20
T3	19
T4	8
Clinical N category
N0	3
N1	11
N2	27
N3	9
UICC stage
II	8
III	26
IVa	7
IVb	9

Abbreviations: T, tumor; N, lymph node; UICC, Union for International Cancer Control.

Table 2 The treatment modalities of chemotherapy and nimotuzumab combined with IMRT in all patients

The treatment modalities	Number of patients
Chemotherapy
NAC	2
NAC + AC	19
NAC + CCT + AC	29
Nimotuzumab therapy, cycles
Median	7
Range	2–14
≥6	43
<6	7

Abbreviations: IMRT, intensity-modulated radiotherapy; NAC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy; AC, adjuvant chemotherapy; CCT, concurrent chemotherapy.

Figure 1 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of PFS (enrolled population).

Abbreviation: PFS, progression-free survival.

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of OS (enrolled population).

Abbreviation: OS, overall survival.

Figure 3 Kaplan–Meier survival curves of PFS for patients receiving ≥6 versus <6 cycles of nimotuzumab.

Abbreviation: PFS, progression-free survival.

Figure 4 Kaplan–Meier survival curves of PFS for patients with stage II–III versus stage IV.

Abbreviation: PFS, progression-free survival.

Table 3 Impact of prognostic factors on PFS by univariate and multivariate analysis

Variable	No	Univariate analysis		Multivariate analysis
		P-value	HR (95% CI)	P-value	HR (95% CI)
Gender		0.268		0.167
Male	40		3.224 (0.407–25.571)		4.939 (0.512–47.644)
Female	10
Age, years		0.859		0.481
>50	30		0.892 (0.251–3.166)		0.583 (0.130–2.615)
≤50	20
Clinical T category		0.310		0.608
T1–2	23		2.017 (0.521–7.805)		0.619 (0.099–3.880)
T3–4	27
Clinical N category		0.302		0.125
N0–2	41		2.041 (0.526–7.919)		0.139 (0.011–1.733)
N3	9
UICC stage		0.114		0.058
II–III	34		2.726 (0.785–9.465)		11.206 (0.921–136.315)
IV	16
Concurrent chemotherapy		0.302		0.422
Yes	29		2.042 (0.526–7.919)		2.096 (0.344–12.779)
No	21
Cycles of nimotuzumab		0.010		0.006
<6	7		0.184 (0.051–0.669)		0.076 (0.012–0.471)
≥6	43

Abbreviations: PFS, progression-free survival; T, tumor; N, lymph node; UICC, Union for International Cancer Control; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval.

Table 4 The frequency of acute toxicities during IMRT plus nimotuzumab

Acute toxicities	Number of patients (%)
	Grade 1–2	Grade 3	Grade 4
Neutropenia	23 (46.0)	9 (18.0)	0 (0)
Thrombocytopenia	4 (8.0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Anemia	5 (10.0)	1 (2.0)	0 (0)
Oral mucositis	32 (64.0)	16 (32.0)	2 (4.0)
Dermatitis	44 (88.0)	3 (6.0)	0 (0)
Nimotuzumab-related rash	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Nimotuzumab-related anaphylaxis	1 (2.0)	1 (2.0)	0 (0)

Abbreviation: IMRT, intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Table 5 The frequency of grade 3–4 acute adverse events during IMRT plus nimotuzumab with or without CCT

CCT	No	Grade 3–4 adverse events (%)
		Total	Mucositis	Neutropenia	Anemia	Dermatitis
With	29	18 (62.1)	12 (41.4)	7 (24.1)	1 (3.4)	2 (6.9)
Without	21	7 (33.3)	6 (28.6)	2 (9.5)	0 (0)	1 (4.8)
P-value	N/A	0.045	0.352	0.340	1.000	0.756

Abbreviations: IMRT, intensity-modulated radiotherapy; CCT, concurrent chemotherapy; N/A, not available.