title: Current recommendations for systemic therapy of recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer.
abstract: For palliation of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer (R/M HNSCC), the major classes of commonly used cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents are platinum agents (cisplatin, carboplatin), taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), and antimetabolic agents (methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil). Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor, also shows modest activity against R/M HNSCC. Because the overall management of patients with R/M HNSCC often involves multidisciplinary input, this review focuses on data that help guide decision-making in scenarios in which palliative chemotherapy is planned. Avenues for ongoing research are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Medical Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA. furym@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Fury
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pfister
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D003657:Decision Making; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents