Systemic treatment strategies and therapeutic monitoring for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is endemic in Asia and is etiologically associated with the Epstein–Barr virus. Although radiotherapy can cure most patients with early-stage disease, those with advanced disease often develop recurrences following radiotherapy. The past decade has witnessed significant advances in the systemic treatment of advanced NPC. This article reviews the latest literature regarding: combined modality therapy for locoregionally advanced NPC; clinical trials of novel biologic and cytotoxic therapies for metastatic NPC; and disease monitoring with the plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA assay.

Keywords::

• 5-azacitidine
• cetuximab
• concurrent chemoradiotherapy
• plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA
• nasopharyngeal carcinoma