A total of 120 patients with pathologically confirmed locally advanced low-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups, with 60 patients in each group. One group was treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with Endostar and the other group was treated with IMRT combined with concurrent chemotherapy. The short term efficacy and the toxic and side effects of these treatments were evaluated. The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival of patients were analyzed. Our data may provide an alternative option for the treatment of locally advanced low-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma with high efficacy and low toxicity.

This study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial. A set of unified standards were used, including the clinical research program, inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, chemoradiotherapy regimen and evaluation criteria. Nine medical centers participated in this study and 120 patients with pathologically confirmed locally advanced low-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled. These patients were stratified according to clinical stage and participating center, and were randomly divided into two groups: IMRT combined with Endostar group ( IMRT 70-74Gy, Endostar 7.5mg / m2, 2 cycles of continuous intravenous pumping, and 2 cycles of maintenance therapy after radiotherapy) and IMRT combined with concurrent chemotherapy group ( IMRT 70-74Gy, DDP 100mg / m2, intravenous infusion over 2 hours , for 2-3 cycles). After treatment, follow-up was performed every 3 months. The treatment toxicity, local control rate, distant metastasis-free survival, overall survival, progression-free survival were observed and assessed.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. patients of either gender and aged from 18 to 70 years old.
2. patients with histologically confirmed non-keratinizing squamous cell nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
3. patients at stage III/IVM0 by UICC2010 staging; patients with higher risk factors (such as N3 and T4N2-phase lymph node ≥4 cm) were excluded.
4. KPS ≥ 70 (Appendix I)
5. patients with available MRI data of nasopharynx and measurable tumor lesions.
6. patients did not receive any treatment before enrollment.
7. patients with expected survival longer than 6 months.
8. biochemical indexes: hemoglobin > 120 g/L, WBC > 4 x 109 /L, and blood platelet ≥ 100 x 109 /L; levels of indicators for hepatic and renal function was 1.25 folds of the upper limit of normal value.
9. the informed content was obtained from every patient.
10. patients with effective follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. those with malignant tumors other than nasopharyngeal carcinoma, stage I non-melanoma skin cancer, and cervical carcinoma in situ.
2. those received treatments before enrollment.
3. pregnant or lactating women and reproductive women without contraception.
4. those who were undergoing other drug trials.
5. those with severe complications, including myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmia, severe cerebrovascular disease, ulcer disease, mental illness and uncontrollable diabetes.
6. those who could not be followed up at regular intervals.
7. those who were treated with tumor targeting drugs.
8. those who could not subject to MRI examination.
9. those who could not meet the requirements of the prescribed dose.
10. those with hemorrhagic tendency.