Summary of major radiation fractionation and chemotherapy trials for organ preservation therapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To review radiation fractionation and chemotherapy trials for patients undergoing organ preservation therapy for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Radiation therapy fractionation and chemotherapy trial results as well as historical evidence are systematically reviewed.


RESULTS
Trial results, which involve nearly 30,000 patients, have been interpreted, compared, and presented in a structured manner to demonstrate the changing approaches in treatment over the years from the 1960s to the present. The review includes data from the split-course radiation therapy era, meta-analyses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy fractionation trials, cetuximab trials, "triple-drug trials," and modern trials of induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This summary will be useful to clinicians making treatment decisions today and to investigators designing trials in the future.
South Florida Radiation Oncology, Boynton Beach, Florida. Electronic address: jtparsons007@yahoo.com.
James T
JT
Parsons
Valley View Hospital, Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Bruce D
BD
Greene
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*