Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Palliative care in metastatic head and neck cancer
Alyssa M Civantos1, Aman Prasad1, Ryan M Carey2
1Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Background:
Due to inherent impact on quality of life, metastatic head and neck cancer patients are well-suited to benefit from palliative care (PC). Our objective was to examine factors that shape PC utilization and implications for overall survival in stage IVc head and neck cancer patients.
Methods:
A retrospective study of patients with stage IVc head and neck cancer in the National Cancer Database from 2004 and 2015 was conducted.
Results:
7794 cases met inclusion criteria, of which 19.3% received PC. PC use was associated with more recent years of diagnosis, Northeast facility geography, and non-private insurances (p < 0.05). Compared to no PC, "interventional" PC, defined as palliative surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, and "pain management only" PC were associated with lower overall survival (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
PC use increased over time and was associated with demographic and clinical factors. There remains opportunity for improvement in optimal implementation of palliative care.
Related Concept Videos
Continuing Care
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

