Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous cancers of the head and neck: current status and future prospects.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous head and neck cancer.


RESULTS
Several phase III clinical trials in locally advanced squamous head and neck cancer show promising results for neoadjuvant platinum, taxane, and fluorouracil chemotherapy prior to definitive radiation or concurrent chemoradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical trials comparing cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil with or without a taxane followed by radiation or concurrent chemoradiation show that the three-drug induction chemotherapy may improve survival particularly for unresectable tumors. Clinical trials comparing chemoradiation with and without induction three-drug chemotherapy are ongoing. Molecular and clinical considerations for using neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancers are being explored.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
Sreenivasa R
SR
Chandana
Barbara A
BA
Conley
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D018450:Disease Progression; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology