Identifying the optimal candidates for locoregional radiation therapy in patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND To evaluate the value of locoregional radiation therapy (LRRT) in de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) and identify suitable candidates for additional LRRT after palliative chemotherapy (PCT). METHODS Patients with de novo mNPC received platinum-based chemotherapy for a minimum of four cycles with or without definitive LRRT via intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were all candidates for this study. RESULTS A total of 168 patients were included for this analysis. Additional LRRT was associated with significantly longer median OS (69.5 vs. 17.8 months, p