Induction Chemotherapy In Head And Neck Cancer: A Standard Of Care

Locally advanced head and neck cancer requires multimodality therapy. Systemic chemotherapy has been proven to be effective in improving locoregional control and survival in these patients in prospective randomized clinical trials. Induction with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil had been used in the past; however, concurrent chemoradiotherapy was shown to be most beneficial and became a standard of care. Marked improvement in survival was seen in clinical trials when docetaxel was added to the traditional regimen of cispaltin and 5-fluorouracil for induction. Docetaxel-based induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiation has been established as a new standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Other trial designs utilizing biologic therapies as a part of induction have also been reported. Newer induction therapy trials are being designed in an attempt to improve the survival rate further.