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[Treatment for recurrent head and neck carcinomas]
1Dept. of Otolaryngology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|March 11, 1998
Summary
Locoregional recurrence is common in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Combining chemotherapy with reirradiation (chemoradiation) shows promise for improving local control and survival in these challenging cases.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Head and Neck Cancer Research
Context:
- Head and neck carcinomas frequently present with advanced disease, posing significant challenges for locoregional control.
- Despite primary treatments like radiotherapy and surgery, locoregional recurrence rates remain high (50-60%), with poor prognosis upon relapse.
Purpose:
- To review recent studies on reirradiation strategies for patients with locoregional recurrences of head and neck carcinomas.
- To evaluate the efficacy of combining reirradiation with chemotherapy (chemoradiation) in improving outcomes for recurrent head and neck cancers.
Summary:
- Chemotherapy, including cisplatin (CDDP), is used for recurrent head and neck cancers but shows limited response rates.
- Reirradiation combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation) is explored to enhance efficacy and manage cumulative radiation doses.
- Chemoradiation, involving effective chemotherapy and approximately 60 Gy radiation, is crucial for improving local control and survival in recurrent head and neck carcinomas.
Impact:
- Highlights the critical role of chemoradiation in managing challenging locoregional recurrences of head and neck cancer.
- Provides evidence supporting optimized chemoradiation protocols for improved patient survival and disease control.
- Informs future treatment strategies for recurrent head and neck malignancies, aiming to overcome limitations of previous therapies.