1 research outputs found
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer
The multidisciplinary approach to treating squamous cell carcinoma of
the head and neck is complex and evolving. Chemotherapy is increasingly
being incorporated into the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the
head and neck. Previously, radiotherapy following surgery was the
standard approach to the treatment of loco regionally advanced
resectable disease. Data from randomized trials have confirmed the
benefits of concurrent chemo radiotherapy in the adjuvant setting.
Chemo radiotherapy is also the recommended approach for unresectable
disease. Advanced loco regional disease is the most frequent clinical
situation in Head and Neck cancer. The standard of care for most
clinicians is a multidisciplinary treatment with concomitant
chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (CRT). However, retrospective studies
have shown that in patients treated with CRT there was a relative
increase in systemic relapse due to a lack of systemic control. For
this reason a renewed interest has appeared for the incorporation of
induction chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced Head and
Neck Cancer. Furthermore new combination regimens with taxanes have
shown to be more active than the classical cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil
induction regimen. Novel targeted agents, such as epidermal growth
factor receptor antagonists, are showing promise in the treatment of
patients with both loco regionally advanced and recurrent/metastatic
squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck