The role of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers: a review

Abstract

Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy has become the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers. In surgically operated patients post-operative concurrent chemo-radiotherapy is the standard of care. For organ/speech preservation and in patients who are not surgically operable the standard of care is concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. In patients with locally advanced NPC although concurrent chemo-radiotherapy was superior to RT only, the standard of care is concurrent chemo-radiotherapy followed by three courses of adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Single daily fraction irradiation is the standard of care when given concomitant with chemotherapy. Although, single agent cisplatin given on every three weeks schedule is the standard of care, this could be replaced safely and as effectively with weekly carboplatin given with RT with much less side effects and with similar efficacy.