Chemotherapy added to locoregional treatment for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma: three meta-analyses of updated individual data. MACH-NC Collaborative Group. Meta analysis of chemotherapy on head and neck cancer

A meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials on elective neck dissection versus therapeutic neck dissection in oral cavity cancers with clinically node-negative neck

“…This process can be interrupted or reversed through the use of natural or synthetic agents, defined as chemoprevention [111]. However, in established cases of oral carcinomas or other head and neck cancers, chemotherapy has been demonstrated to play a significant role in their management [43,115,128,148]. taxanes are also regarded as radiation sensitizers [125].…”

Docetaxel induction therapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

“…However, induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy are now firmly integrated in locoregional care. Controlled studies have established cisplatin and continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as the standard induction regimen for unresectable locally advanced SCCHN patients (Paccagnella et al, 1994;Lefebvre et al, 1996;Domenge et al, 2000;Pignon et al, 2000). Up to 40% of chemonaïve locally advanced SCCHN patients treated with cisplatin -5-FU (PF) have been reported to achieve a complete response, with an overall response rate (ORR) in the range of 85% (Schantz et al, 2001).…”

“…The main toxicities associated with PF-induction therapy are haematological, digestive and mucositis with the majority of events being grade I or II (Paccagnella et al, 1994;Domenge et al, 2000). Despite inducing locoregional control, high response rates and a significant improvement in survival, PF induction therapy is associated with a relatively poor absolute rate of patient survival, which is similar to that seen with intensive chemoradiotherapy regimens (Paccagnella et al, 1994;Lefebvre et al, 1996;Domenge et al, 2000;Pignon et al, 2000). The dose-intensive cisplatin -5-FU -leucovorin (PFL) combination was subsequently developed in an attempt to improve complete response rates to induction chemotherapy and thus survival.…”

Management of unresectable head and neck cancers — a retrospective analysis at a rural medical college of India

“…Neither paclitaxel nor docetaxel has been found superior to methotrexate with regard to survival as primary endpoint [12]. Meta-analysis report for combination chemotherapy showed cisplatin and infusion Palliative radiotherapy provides an effective symptom relief and improvement in quality-of-life -as has been evidenced by large, randomized, meta-analysis report [14,15]. In other study it has been observed that "best supportive care" alone is associated with a median survival of 3-6 months in advanced SCCHN [16,17].…”