Recommendations for Updating T and N Staging Systems for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in the Era of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168470
• Publication Date: 2016-12-14T19:03:42Z
• Authors: Zhong-Guo Liang; Xiao-Qian Chen; Zhi-Jie Niu; Kai-Hua Chen; Ling Li; Song Qu; Fang Su; Wei Zhao; Ye Li; Xin-Bin Pan; Xiao-Dong Zhu
• Keywords: AJCC staging system; Cancer staging; Merge (version control); Pathological staging; T-stage; TNM staging system

The aim of this study was to compare the 2008 Chinese and 7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging systems for nasopharyngeal carcinoma provide proposals updating T N present system.Between January 2007 December 2012, a cohort 752 patients with biopsy-proven, newly diagnosed, non-metastatic who were treated intensity-modulated radiotherapy retrospectively analysed. Prognoses compared by stage, clinical stage according two overall survival (OS), local relapse-free (LRFS), distant metastasis-free (DMFS).In terms both systems, current comparable in predicting OS. classification system better LRFS, while AJCC superior DMFS. In modern era radiotherapy, should be updated down-staging T2 T1, it might rational merge subcategories N1 N2.The each had advantages prognosis. It seems reasonable downstage T1 N2.