Induction Paclitaxel-Cisplatin-Capecitabine for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
NEJM EvidAug 25, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchOncology (Medical)
Wang-Zhong Li, Shu-Hui Lv, Shui-Qing He et al.
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In 30 seconds
This multicenter, randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine (TPC) versus cisplatin and fluorouracil (PF) in patients with high-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). The study found that 5-year failure-free survival (FFS) was significantly higher in the TPC group at 77.6% compared to 62.9% in the PF group (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34-0.82).
Key findings
- 5-year FFS was 77.6% in the TPC group vs 62.9% in the PF group (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34-0.82).
- Distant metastasis-free survival at 5 years was 87.8% for TPC vs 78.8% for PF (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28-0.95).
- Locoregional relapse-free survival was 92.0% in the TPC group compared to 82.1% in the PF group (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21-0.88).
- Overall survival at 5 years was 89.6% for TPC vs 82.2% for PF (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.95).
Why it matters
The findings suggest that TPC induction chemotherapy may improve long-term outcomes in patients with high-risk LA-NPC, potentially guiding treatment decisions in this population to enhance survival rates.