Abstract： Objective To compare the short-term effects and toxicity of one cycle of TPF regimen induction chemotherapy with that of two cycles of PF regimen induction chemotherapy in the N advanced local nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods A total of 47 patients initially treated with N advanced local NPC without distant metastasis from Jan 2007 to Dec 2008 were enrolled in this study. The TPF chemotherapy regimen was administered as follows: TAX 60 mg/m2, i.v. infusion on day 1st, cisplatin 80 mg/m2, i.v. infusion on day 1st and 5-Fu 800 mg/m2, bolus infusion in 96 hours on day lst-4th. The PF chemotherapy regimen was as follows: cisplatin 100 mg/m2, i.v. infusion on day 1 and 5-Fu 1000 mg/m2, bolus infusion in 96 hours on day lst-4th. Twenty-six patients received one cycle of TPF regimen and 21 patients received two cycles of PF regimen, with 21 days each cycle and a total of 3 courses in each group, then chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin 30 mg/m2 (weekly) was followed. Results The short-term efficacy was no significant difference between two groups, after one cycle TPF chemotherapy, the CR+PR rates of primary site and lymph nodes were 57.7 % and 69.2 %, respectively, while after two cycles PF chemotherapy in control group, those were 66.7 % and 71.4 %, respectively (P>0.05). In 3 months after treatment, the CR rates of primary site and lymph nodes in TPF group were 92.3 % and 88.7 %, respectively, while those in control group were 100.0 % and 90.5 %, respectively (P>0.05). The main adverse reactions were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ neutropenia and alopecia in TPF group. Conclusion Short-term effects of induction chemotherapy with one cycle of TPF regimen in the N advanced local NPC is satisfied, and the main toxicity is neutropenia.