Timing factors as prognostic variables in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with adjuvant radiotherapy: a literature review

Introduction: Radiotherapy (RT) plays an important role in the treatment of patients with head and neck neoplasia, and is frequently used as postoperative adjuvant therapy. This study aimed to review the literature about timing factors that may influence the clinical outcomes of patients with advanced head and neck neoplasia treated with adjuvant RT. Results: Timing factors such as total treatment time, length of adjuvant RT, and the absence of interruptions during RT may influence the clinical outcome of these patients. Conclusions: In the same way that certain tumor factors can affect the prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, some therapeutic timing factors are also prognostic factors and therefore, must be carefully orchestrated in order to avoid loss at therapeutic outcomes for these patients. (author)