Definitive radiation therapy and liver local therapy in de novo liver metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Large cohort study

Background We aimed to evaluate patients suitable for definitive radiation therapy (DRT) and liver local therapy (LLT) in addition to palliative chemotherapy (PCT) among those with de novo liver metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (lmNPC). Methods The overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) rates were calculated and compared in 610 patients with lmNPC. Results Both the PCT+DRT and PCT+DRT+LLT groups had better survival outcomes than the PCT group. Among patients with complete response/partial response (CR/PR) after PCT, no significant differences in survival rates were observed between those treated with PCT+DRT and PCT+DRT+LLT (2‐year PFS: 27.0% vs. 32.9%, p = 0.263). Among patients with progressive disease/stable disease (PD/SD) after PCT, significantly better survival rates were observed in patients treated with PCT+DRT+LLT. Conclusions DRT might benefit patients with lmNPC regardless of the tumor response after PCT. For patients with CR/PR, LLT might not be needed. For patients with PD/SD, LLT might improve survival outcomes.