Adenoid cystic cancer of nasopharynx: a single-institution retrospective study

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Abstract

Introduction. Adenocystic nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy arising from the tissue of the minor salivary glands. Currently, there is no consensus in the medical community regarding the optimal treatment method. The priority of surgery over radiation therapy, as well as the advisability of monotherapy versus combination approaches, remain controversial.

Aim. To summarize the clinical characteristics of adenocystic nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on an analysis of 13 cases from a single institution, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic approaches for treating patients with these rare tumors.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of data from 13 patients with nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma treated at the N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology from 1989 to 2023 was conducted. All patients underwent conservative chemoradiation therapy: in 6 cases – concurrent chemoradiation therapy, in 7 cases – induction chemotherapy followed by radiation or chemoradiation.

Results. A complete clinical effect was achieved in 9 patients, a partial effect in 4. Disease progression was noted in 7 cases: local recurrence in 3 patients, continued tumor growth in 1, distant metastases in 3. The five-year survival rate was 38.5 %. Five patients died during the first two months, another three were lost to follow-up 5–15 months after the start of treatment. The median overall survival was 28 months. Conclusion. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasopharynx is an extremely rare pathology. Although the standard treatment is surgery followed by radiation therapy, when radical surgery is not possible in patients with locally advanced disease, chemoradiation therapy becomes the treatment of choice.

About the authors

S. B. Alieva

N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Author for correspondence.
Email: drsevil@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6835-5567
Russian Federation, 24 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow, 115522

M. V. Chernykh

N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: drsevil@maul.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4944-4035
Russian Federation, 24 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow, 115522

I. A. Zaderenko

N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: drsevil@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0183-4827
Russian Federation, 24 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow, 115522

O. A. Saprina

N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: drsevil@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2283-1812
Russian Federation, 24 Kashirskoe Shosse, Moscow, 115522

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