Intraarterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer, Part 2: Clinical experience

Despite almost 3 decades of experience, the use of intraarterial (IA) chemotherapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer is not universally accepted. The overall reported response rates are not substantially different from the therapeutic results obtained with systemic therapy. The additional complications associated with establishing and maintaining arterial access have further dampened enthusiasm for this approach. It is clear that considerable improvement in the techniques and efficacy of IA chemotherapy is necessary. This second and last part of this article considers the past and present clinical experience with IA therapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer and explores future developments.