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Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatments

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How Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treated?

NPC is highly sensitive to both radiation treatment and many forms of drug (chemotherapy) treatment. For this reason and because the nasopharynx is not easily accessible by surgical means, the mainstay of treatment for both localized (head and neck) and metastatic (spreads beyond the head and neck) NPC is radiation and drug treatment.

Cure rates for patients with localized disease are high, even for patients with bulky tumors in their nasopharynx or neck lymph nodes. Major advances in radiation techniques over the past two decades, including intensity modulated radiation treatments (IMRT) have led to excellent local control of NPC. The addition of chemotherapy, especially cisplatin treatments overlapping with radiation, has also been associated with improved cure rates in patients with locally advanced tumors.

For patients with advanced, metastatic tumors, chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment. Many drugs, including cisplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, and 5- fluorouracil have been shown to be effective.

Standard treatment options

Chemotherapy

The use of anticancer drugs to shrink or kill cancerous cells and reduce cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

Radiation therapy

The use of high-energy radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells, tumors, and non-cancerous diseases.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes used for pharyngeal cancer that does not respond to radiation therapy. If cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the doctor may remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.

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INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?

The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!

Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.

Condition Spotlight

Your Health: HPV Related Throat Cancer Watch Video
Head & Neck Cancer: Multidisciplinary Care at Stanford
Head & Neck Cancer: Multidisciplinary Care at Stanford Play Video | 6:21
Nutrition Video for Head & Neck Cancer
Nutrition Video for Head & Neck Cancer Play Video | 4:24

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials Closed Trials
Safety and Efficacy of Repeat Administration of Ad/PNP and Fludarabine Phosphate in Patients With Local Head/Neck Cancer Head and Neck Cancer, Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer
Individualized Treatment in Treating Patients With Stage II-IVB Nasopharyngeal Cancer Based on EBV DNA Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Neck Cancer, Thyroid Cancer
T-DM1 and Tucatinib Compared With T-DM1 Alone in Preventing Relapses in People With High Risk HER2-Positive Breast Cancer, the CompassHER2 RD Trial Head and Neck Cancer, Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Pharynx Cancer
Efficacy and Safety Study of Tisotumab Vedotin for Patients With Solid Tumors Hypopharyngeal Cancer and Cervical Esophageal Cancer, Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer, Salivary Glands Cancer
Radiation Therapy With Durvalumab or Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Locoregionally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Who Cannot Take Cisplatin Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Neck Cancer, Thyroid Cancer
Clinical Trials View All »

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