Induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus induction chemotherapy plus volumetric modulated arc therapy alone in the treatment of stage II-IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: a retrospective controlled study

Table 4 Profile of treatment-related toxicities

	ICRT arm (n = 139)	IC/CCRT arm (n = 78)	P-value
Grade 3–4 adverse events during IC, n (%)
Hematological
Leukopenia/neutropenia	26 (18.71)	20 (25.64)	0.23
Thrombocytopenia	1 (0.72)	0 (0)	1.00
Anemia	2 (1.44)	0 (0)	0.54
Non-Hematological
Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea	23 (16.55)	12 (15.38)	0.82
Liver disfunction	0 (0)	2 (2.56)	0.13
Kidney disfunction	0 (0)	0 (0)	NA
Grade 3–4 adverse events during RT, n (%)
Hematological
Leukopenia/neutropenia	5 (3.60)	16 (20.51)	< 0.001^a
Thrombocytopenia	2 (1.44)	4 (5.13)	0.19
Anemia	2 (1.44)	2 (2.56)	0.30
Non-Hematological
Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea	3 (2.16)	32 (41.03)	< 0.001^a
Skin reaction	58 (41.73)	39 (50.00)	0.24
Mucositis	41 (29.50)	37 (47.44)	0.01^a
Grade 3–4 late toxicities
Xerostomia	48 (34.53)	38 (48.72)	0.04^a
Ear (deafness/otitis)	39 (28.06)	27 (34.62)	0.31
Cranial neuropathy	9 (6.47)	4 (5.13)	0.69
Neck tissue damage	28 (20.14)	24 (30.77)	0.08

IC induction chemotherapy, RT radiotherapy, ICRT induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, ICCCRT concurrent chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, NA none available
^astatistical significant

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