The Contribution of Chemotherapy

Abstract

Concomitant chemoradiotherapy has been shown to improve locoregional control, organ preservation, and/or survival over radiotherapy alone and has emerged as a standard treatment for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. ● The addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy can worsen acute radiation-induced toxicities, including mucositis and dermatitis, and result in chemotherapy predominantly-related toxicities, such as myelosuppression, neuropathy, nausea and vomiting.As treatment has been intensifi ed, it becomes increasingly important to measure and address the impact of treatment-related toxicities on quality of life parameters. ● The incorporation of targeted systemic agents, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, and of radioprotectants into combined modality treatments offers the potential for improving the risk to benefi t ratio. ● Future clinical research should focus on how to ameliorate acute and late treatment-related toxicities and improve quality of life while maintaining therapeutic effi cacy.