Current and future state of chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Chemoradiotherapy has been used in an effort to improve therapeutic results for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Improved local-regional control and disease free or overall survival have been shown in several randomized trials using a concurrent or an alternative approach. Induction chemotherapy (neo-adjuvant chemotherapy) however, has not been shown to improve local-regional control or survival. Induction chemotherapy followed by definitive radiotherapy may be useful in the selection patients who are likely to benefit from non-surgical organ preservation treatment schemes. Further clinical trials are needed to clarify the best suitable combination of chemotherapy and radiation. (author)