The role of chemotherapy in the curative treatment of head and neck cancer.
Historically, the application of chemotherapy in patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer had been limited to the palliative setting; however, the role of chemotherapy in the definitive management of these tumors has undergone great evolution during the last 5 to 10 years. Available randomized data currently support a role for chemotherapy as part of combined modality, curative treatment strategies in the management of patients with unresectable disease, advanced nasopharynx cancer, and as part of a larynx preservation approach in patients with advanced larynx or hypopharynx cancer requiring total laryngectomy. Chemoprevention as a strategy to prevent second primary tumors also shows great promise.
Pfister
D G
DG
Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Shaha
A R
AR
Harrison
L B
LB
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018890:Chemoprevention; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000517:prevention & control; D010166:Palliative Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents