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The Expanding Role of Systemic Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer

From the Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology; Department of Pathology; and the Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, Chicago, IL

Address reprint requests to Ezra E.W. Cohen, MD, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637-1470; e-mail: ecohen{at}medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu

Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has evolved greatly in the last two decades, owing to the integration of chemotherapy, advances in radiotherapeutic techniques, and organ-preserving surgery. Several randomized trials have established new standards of care that should be adopted. Current efforts are building on these earlier trials in order to improve survival and quality of life. Coincident with this, investigators are developing molecularly targeted approaches that hold promise for the future. This review will focus on current therapy for locally advanced, recurrent, and metastatic SCCHN and discuss controversies and directions for future research.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

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