Condition

Nasopharynx cancer

Clinical trials and treatment information for Nasopharynx cancer

525K
People Affected
80
Active Trials
158K
New Cases/Year
75K
Deaths/Year

Treatment Rankings

Ranked by evidence volume first. Medicine has spent centuries ranking things by vibes. This is an improvement.

1
Docetaxel + Cisplatin + 5-Fluorouracil (TPF Induction Chemotherapy) followed by Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
89% Effectiveness• 88% Confidence• 20% Safety• 3 trials• 8K participants
HIGH EvidenceModerate ValueDose: Docetaxel 75 mg/m2, Cisplatin 75 mg/m2, 5-Fluorouracil 750 mg/m2/day continuous infusion for 5 days, every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. Followed by Cisplatin-based CCRT (66-70 Gy radiation with weekly Cisplatin 40 mg/m2).
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
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20
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Within weeks for induction; full effect after CCRT (months)

Duration

4-5 months (9 weeks induction + 6-7 weeks CCRT)

Response Rate

90%

Remission Rate

82%

Common Side Effects:

Myelosuppression (Neutropenia): 80%
Nausea/Vomiting: 85%
Mucositis: 50%
Diarrhea: 40%
Fatigue: 80%
Alopecia: 60%
Peripheral neuropathy: 25%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$20,000

Monitoring

$30,000

Side Effects

$25,000

Total Annual

$75,000

Cost-Effectiveness

MODERATE

QALYs Gained

2.7

Cost per Remission

$91,463

Cost per Responder

$83,333

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
3-year Overall Survival Rate78% (with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+10.26% (+8% (absolute increase))
5-year Overall Survival Rate68% (with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+14.71% (+10% (absolute increase))
3-year Distant Metastasis-Free Survival Rate73% (with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+16.44% (+12% (absolute increase))
3-year Locoregional Recurrence-Free Survival Rate87% (with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+5.75% (+5% (absolute increase))
Secondary Benefits
Primary Tumor Volume50 cm³ (pre-induction chemotherapy)
-60% (-30 cm³ (post-induction chemotherapy))
Nodal Tumor Volume20 cm³ (pre-induction chemotherapy)
-70% (-14 cm³ (post-induction chemotherapy))
Common Side Effects
Myelosuppression (Neutropenia)
+80%
Nausea/Vomiting
+85%
Mucositis
+50%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
2
Induction Chemotherapy + Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy (Cisplatin-based)
88% Effectiveness• 88% Confidence• 20% Safety• 8 trials• 15K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: Induction chemotherapy (e.g., Gemcitabine + Cisplatin) followed by Cisplatin-based CCRT (66-70 Gy radiation with weekly Cisplatin 40 mg/m2).
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
20
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Within weeks for induction; full effect after CCRT (months)

Duration

4-6 months (2-4 cycles induction + 6-7 weeks CCRT)

Response Rate

90%

Remission Rate

80%

Common Side Effects:

Myelosuppression: 60%
Nausea/Vomiting: 80%
Mucositis: 70%
Xerostomia: 90%
Fatigue: 80%
Nephrotoxicity: 25%
Ototoxicity: 15%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$15,000

Monitoring

$25,000

Side Effects

$20,000

Total Annual

$60,000

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

2.5

Cost per Remission

$75,000

Cost per Responder

$66,667

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
3-year Overall Survival Rate70% (with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+11.4% (+8 percentage points)
3-year Progression-Free Survival Rate60% (with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+16.7% (+10 percentage points)
3-year Local-Regional Recurrence-Free Survival Rate85% (with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+5.9% (+5 percentage points)
Complete Response Rate75% (with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+13.3% (+10 percentage points)
Secondary Benefits
EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status/QoL Score65/100 (pre-treatment, score higher indicates better QoL)
+10.8% (+7 points)
MDADI (MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory) Total Score60/100 (pre-treatment, score higher indicates better swallowing function)
+13.3% (+8 points)
3-year Distant Metastasis-Free Survival Rate80% (with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone)
+10% (+8 percentage points)
Common Side Effects
Myelosuppression
+60%
Nausea/Vomiting
+80%
Mucositis
+70%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
3
Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy (Cisplatin-based)
85% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 25% Safety• 12 trials• 30K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 66-70 Gy radiation in 30-35 fractions with weekly Cisplatin 40 mg/m2 or 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for 2-3 cycles.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
25
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

During and immediately after treatment (weeks to months)

Duration

6-7 weeks

Response Rate

85%

Remission Rate

75%

Common Side Effects:

Mucositis: 80%
Xerostomia (dry mouth): 90%
Dermatitis (radiation): 85%
Nausea/Vomiting: 70%
Fatigue: 80%
Neutropenia: 40%
Nephrotoxicity: 25%
Dysphagia: 60%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$5,000

Monitoring

$20,000

Side Effects

$15,000

Total Annual

$40,000

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

2

Cost per Remission

$53,333

Cost per Responder

$47,058

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
3-Year Overall Survival70%
+14.3% (+10%)
3-Year Locoregional Recurrence-Free Survival75%
+9.3% (+7%)
3-Year Distant Metastasis-Free Survival80%
+6.3% (+5%)
Clinical Complete Response Rate75%
+13.3% (+10%)
Secondary Benefits
1-Year Global Health Status (EORTC QLQ-C30 score)60/100
+10% (+6 points)
1-Year Speech Function (EORTC QLQ-HN35 score)70/100
+14.3% (+10 points)
1-Year Head and Neck Pain (EORTC QLQ-HN35 score)35/100
-42.9% (-15 points)
Common Side Effects
Mucositis
+80%
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
+90%
Dermatitis (radiation)
+85%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
4
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) alone (for early stage)
80% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 30% Safety• 1 trials• 18K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 66-70 Gy in 30-35 fractions.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
30
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

During and immediately after treatment (weeks to months)

Duration

6-7 weeks

Response Rate

85%

Remission Rate

80%

Common Side Effects:

Xerostomia: 80%
Mucositis: 70%
Dermatitis: 75%
Fatigue: 70%
Dysphagia: 50%
Cranial nerve deficits: 10%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$0

Monitoring

$20,000

Side Effects

$10,000

Total Annual

$30,000

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

2

Cost per Remission

$37,500

Cost per Responder

$35,294

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Primary Nasopharyngeal Tumor Volume5.0 cm^3 (e.g., T2 lesion)
-100% (-5.0 cm^3)
Total Regional Lymph Node Volume2.0 cm^3 (e.g., N1 disease)
-100% (-2.0 cm^3)
Nasal Obstruction Severity (VAS 0-10)6/10 (moderate)
-83.33% (-5 points)
Epistaxis Severity Score (VAS 0-10)7/10 (frequent/severe)
-85.71% (-6 points)
Secondary Benefits
Global Health Status (EORTC QLQ-C30)60/100 (affected by disease)
+25% (+15 points)
Swallowing Function (MDADI Composite Score)70/100 (mild dysfunction due to tumor)
+14.29% (+10 points)
Ability to Tolerate Oral Diet (FOIS Score 1-7)6/7 (limited restrictions)
+16.67% (+1 point)
Common Side Effects
Xerostomia
+80%
Mucositis
+70%
Dermatitis
+75%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
5
Gemcitabine + Cisplatin (for recurrent/metastatic NPC)
75% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 25% Safety• 21 trials• 7K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8, Cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1, every 3 weeks.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
25
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Within weeks of starting cycles

Duration

3-6 cycles

Response Rate

70%

Remission Rate

10%

Common Side Effects:

Myelosuppression (Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia): 70%
Nausea/Vomiting: 60%
Fatigue: 70%
Nephrotoxicity: 25%
Ototoxicity: 15%
Peripheral neuropathy: 15%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$15,000

Monitoring

$15,000

Side Effects

$15,000

Total Annual

$45,000

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.7

Cost per Remission

$450,000

Cost per Responder

$64,286

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Objective Response Rate0% (expected response without effective treatment)
+75% (+75% of patients achieving CR/PR)
Median Progression-Free Survival4.0 months (typical historical median PFS with less effective treatment)
+100% (+4.0 months median PFS)
Disease Control Rate0% (expected disease control without effective treatment)
+92% (+92% of patients achieving CR/PR/SD)
Secondary Benefits
Median Overall Survival10.0 months (typical historical median OS with less effective treatment)
+80% (+8.0 months median OS)
Global Health Status/QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30)55.0/100 (score at baseline for advanced NPC patients)
+10.9% (+6.0 points)
Pain Intensity (NRS 0-10)6.0/10 (average pain score at baseline)
-33.3% (-2.0 points)
Common Side Effects
Myelosuppression (Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia)
+70%
Nausea/Vomiting
+60%
Fatigue
+70%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
6
Pembrolizumab (for recurrent/metastatic NPC)
65% Effectiveness• 80% Confidence• 45% Safety• 3 trials• 5K participants
MODERATE EvidencePoor ValueDose: 200 mg IV every 3 weeks or 400 mg IV every 6 weeks.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
45
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Weeks to months

Duration

Until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (can be 1-2 years+)

Response Rate

25%

Remission Rate

5%

Common Side Effects:

Fatigue: 40%
Nausea: 25%
Rash/Pruritus: 20%
Hypothyroidism: 15%
Diarrhea/Colitis: 7%
Pneumonitis: 3%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$170,000

Monitoring

$15,000

Side Effects

$10,000

Total Annual

$195,000

Cost-Effectiveness

POOR

QALYs Gained

1

Cost per Remission

$3,900,000

Cost per Responder

$780,000

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Overall Survival10.8 months (median for standard second-line chemotherapy)
+52.8% (+5.7 months)
Objective Response Rate10.7% (for standard second-line chemotherapy)
+140.2% (+15 percentage points)
Duration of Response6.0 months (median for standard chemotherapy responders)
+75% (+4.5 months)
Secondary Benefits
Global Health Status (EORTC QLQ-C30)50 points (on 0-100 scale, typical for advanced cancer)
+16% (+8 points)
Fatigue (EORTC QLQ-C30 subscale)65 points (on 0-100 scale, higher is worse)
-15.4% (-10 points)
Pain Intensity (NRS 0-10)6/10
-33.3% (-2 points)
Common Side Effects
Fatigue
+40%
Nausea
+25%
Rash/Pruritus
+20%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4