Objective To study the effects of PF induced chemotherapy combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy and two-dimensional radiotherapy on the short and long term curative effects in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods The treatment condition of 101 cases of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated in the Tumor Hospital Affiliated to San Yat-sen University between January and December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different treatments, the cases were divided into the intensity modulated group and the two-dimensional group. The clinical curative effects, short-term toxic and side effects and survival status were compared between the two groups. Results At the end of radiotherapy, the total remission rate in the intensity modulated group was 92.86% while in the two-dimensional group was 77.97% (P<0.05). In the intensity modulated group, the incidence rates of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳgastrointestinal tract reactions (26.19%) and mucositis (14.29%) were significantly lower than those in the two-dimensional group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in long-term side effects and survival rate between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion PF induced chemotherapy combined with intensity modulated radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma has good short and long-term curative effects and few toxic and side effects.