[Carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Radiotherapy modalities and combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy: state of the art and perspectives].

: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly radiosensitive and chemosensitive. In the patient with locally advanced tumours, the results of conventional radiotherapy are unsatisfactory with significant rates of both local recurrences and distant metastases. The aim of this review is to report the innovative strategies for treatment of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Altered fractionation techniques can improve local control. The impact of the innovative techniques, including conformal radiation, stereotactic radiation and IMRT, on survival, must be evaluated in randomised trials. The encouraging early results obtained with concurrent (more than sequential) chemotherapy and radiotherapy must be confirmed in prospective randomized trial in endemic areas.