Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer is best managed in a multidisciplinary setting. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and, more recently, biologic therapy are often employed in various combinations in an attempt to eradicate both clinically apparent and occult disease. The goals of treatment include maximizing tumor control while maintaining function and quality of life. Most patients present with locally advanced disease, and multimodality organ-conserving therapy is often employed for these patients based on the results of multiple Phase III clinical trials. This article focuses on the rationale and evidence supporting the use of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the management of locally advanced head and neck cancers.