Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in the management of oral cancer: a review.
BACKGROUND
Multi-modality treatment concepts involving preoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and subsequent radical resection are used much less frequently than postoperative treatment for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. In some centres, however, the preoperative approach has been established for several years.


METHODS
The present review is a compilation of the existing evidence on this subject.


METHODS
In a literature-based meta-analysis, the survival data of 1927 patients from 32 eligible publications were analysed.


RESULTS
The calculated survival rates of documented patients show remarkably good results with preoperative CRT and radical surgery. However, the findings of this analysis are based on data with a large proportion of studies using consecutive patient series.


CONCLUSIONS
Hard evidence providing sufficient data from prospective randomised studies is as yet missing for preoperative CRT. Prospective randomised studies are mandatory in this area.
Klug
Clemens
C
Hospital of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, AKH, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. clemens.klug@meduniwien.ac.at
Berzaczy
Dominik
D
Voracek
Martin
M
Millesi
Werner
W
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate