title: Advances in understanding of toxicities of treatment for head and neck cancer.
abstract: Toxicities associated with head and neck cancer treatment are common events. Despite the fact that many side effects of cancer treatment are now well controlled, some, such as mucositis and salivary gland hypofunction, continue to be almost inevitable outcomes of cancer treatment. Furthermore, improvements in cancer treatment itself as well as new modalities, such as targeted treatments, may be associated with different toxicities. In this review, common toxicities associated with head and neck cancer treatment will be discussed including those reported to occur with targeted therapies. This review also considers the concept of toxicity clusters, risk factors for toxicity (for example genetics) and individualisation of cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. richard.logan@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Logan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D052016:Mucositis / Q000209:etiology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000528:radiation effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents