Chemotherapy in the management of squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Previously reserved for palliation, chemotherapy is now also a central component of several curative approaches to the management of patients with advanced-stage head and neck cancer. Here we review the results of both induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy trials in patients with curable disease, and chemotherapy trials in patients with recurrent and metastatic disease, and we highlight current areas of investigation. Compared with traditional treatment modalities, chemotherapy given on induction schedules to patients with advanced laryngeal cancer allows greater organ preservation without compromise to survival; when given concomitantly with radiotherapy to patients with resectable or unresectable advanced disease, chemotherapy again improves survival.
Lamont
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EB
Section of Hematology-Oncology, Cancer Research Center, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. elamont@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Vokes
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EE
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012106:Research; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents