Evaluation of the benefit and use of multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

SummaryGiven the complexities of multimodality treatment for patients with head and neck cancer, the rationale for the use of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to define individual optimal treatment strategies on a per-patient basis is apparent. Increased use of guideline-directed approaches, reduced time to treatment and improved outcomes, which result from use of an MDT approach in head and neck cancer, have been documented. A discussion of these recent advances, as well as presentation of available country-specific guidance on the roles and responsibilities of team members, supports the creation of similar local-language recommendations for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. Finally, expert practical advice on the implementation of MDTs may enable the establishment of the MDT approach more universally around the world

Intérêt d'un nouveau marqueur tumoral sérique le Cyfra 21-1 dans les carcinomes des voies aéro-digestives supérieures

LYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocPARIS-BIUP (751062107) / SudocSudocFranceF

Temoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy for advanced, incurable head and neck cancer: a multicenter study

Background: The aim of this multicenter study was to confirm the antitumor efficacy of Foscan®-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with advanced, end-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: Thirty-nine patients with HNSCC lesions ≤ 10 mm in depth, recurring following standard treatment, were intravenously injected with Foscan®, followed 96 hours later by illumination of the tumor surface with 652 nm laser light. Tumor response was assessed on an intent-to-treat basis using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Results: Of 39 treated patients 19 obtained a complete response (CR), 2 a partial response (PR), 5 a stable disease (SD) for at least 8 weeks, 5 patients had progressive disease (PD) and 8 patients were non-evaluable (NE). Thus, in the per-protocol analysis 68% of the patients obtained an objective tumor response (CR: 61%, PR: 6.5%). Of the treated patients 54% [95% CI: 37%; 70%] showed an objective tumor response (CR 49%). Median survival was significantly longer for responders (160 weeks) than for non-responders (32 weeks). No major toxicities were observed. Conclusions: Patients with advanced head and neck cancer with lesions ≤ 10 mm in depth, who have exhausted other treatment options, can achieve significant local control and survival benefit from Foscan®-mediated PDT. As opposed to conventional treatment modalities, this treatment is tolerated wellstatus: publishe