Intensified concomitant chemoradiotherapy for poor-prognosis head and neck cancer.

Abstract

Head and neck cancer presents most commonly as a locoregionally advanced malignant process [1]. Distant metastases are clinically rare, but may be present more frequently at the microscopic level. Patterns of failure following standard surgery and/or radiotherapy indicate the inability of that therapy to successfully eradicate locoregional disease in the majority of patients. Investigational therapy, therefore, must focus on increasing the efficacy of locoregional therapy as its primary goal. Eradication of systemic microscopic disease remains a secondary goal that may gain greater importance in patients whose locoregional disease can be controlled [2]. Finally, the prevention of second malignancies represents an important long-term goal that can help to maintain the cancer-free status in patients cured of their primary disease [3].