Outcomes comparison of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who treated with combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel with other regimens: A systematic review

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is among the top five cancers, with the highest number in Indonesia. One of the treatments for NPC is chemotherapy. The most common regimen used at Airlangga University Hospital, Surabaya, is a combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel. This study aims to assess the difference in outcomes of NPC patients who are given a combination therapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel with the outcomes of patients who are given regimen therapy other than the combination of the two drugs.

Methods: This study is a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines. Articles used were taken from e-databases, PubMed and Cochrane. The inclusion criteria used were articles that showed the outcomes of NPC patients who received carboplatin and paclitaxel combination therapy compared with other regimens.

Results: This study included one research journal that met the criteria. The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel could reduce serious adverse events by 84% compared to the 3-drug combination. Based on progression-free survival (PFS), the 3-drugs combination showed better results (median: 7.5 months) compared to the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel (median: 6.5 months).

Conclusion: Results showed that the overall outcome of patients treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel combination was not better than those treated with a 3-drug combination of carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab. However, the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel had minimal side effects compared to those given the combination of the three drugs.