Chemotherapy and combined modality therapy in head and neck cancer.
Chemotherapy for head and neck cancer is being actively investigated. Trials of cisplatin, infusional fluorouracil, and other new agents highlight the need for better therapies for patients with recurrent disease. Induction chemotherapy, concomitant chemoradiotherapy, and rapid-sequence combined therapy have been shown to be feasible treatments with encouraging results. Rapidly alternating chemoradiotherapy has been shown to result in a survival benefit compared with radiotherapy alone. Biologic therapy, including interferon and interleukin-2, also merits future evaluation in clinical trials.
City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California.
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VK
Hamasaki
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Vokes
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic