[(Chemo-) prevention of second tumors in patients with head and neck neoplasms]

This review discusses the possible role of chemoprevention in the improvement of survival rates and the prevention of secondary primary tumours in patients with head and neck cancer. Chemoprevention is a new treatment that is especially promising for high risk groups. The fear that the advantages of this treatment will be outweighed by the disadvantages of side-effects and toxicity has not been confirmed by current studies. Randomized studies are needed to show whether chemoprevention can reduce the frequency of second primary tumours.