Meta-analyses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. What is the role of chemotherapy?
Despite more than 70 randomized clinical trials comparing locoregional treatment plus chemotherapy with the same locoregional treatment alone, the effect of chemotherapy on the survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer is uncertain. Indeed, most of the randomized trials have been inconclusive in this regard, and only a few have reported significant results either in favor of or against chemotherapy. This article focuses on four meta-analyses that included a comparison between chemotherapy (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or concomitant) plus locoregional treatment versus the same locoregional treatment alone and in which survival was the main end-point.
Bourhis
J
J
Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. bourhis@igr.fr
Pignon
J P
JP
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents