Induction chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Susumu Okano; Akihiro Homma; Naomi Kiyota; Makoto Tahara; Nobuhiro Hanai; Takahiro Asakage; Kazuto Matsuura; Takenori Ogawa; Yuki Saito; Daisuke Sano; Takeshi Kodaira; Atsushi Motegi; Koichi Yasuda; Shunji Takahashi; Kaoru Tanaka; Takuma Onoe; Tomoya Yokota; Yoshinori Imamura; Yosuke Ariizumi; Tetsuo Akimoto; Ryuichi Hayashi

doi:10.1093/jjco/hyaa220

Induction chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2021 Feb 8;51(2):173-179. doi: 10.1093/jjco/hyaa220.

Authors

Susumu Okano¹, Akihiro Homma², Naomi Kiyota³, Makoto Tahara¹, Nobuhiro Hanai⁴, Takahiro Asakage⁵, Kazuto Matsuura⁶, Takenori Ogawa⁷, Yuki Saito⁸, Daisuke Sano⁹, Takeshi Kodaira¹⁰, Atsushi Motegi¹¹, Koichi Yasuda¹², Shunji Takahashi¹³, Kaoru Tanaka¹⁴, Takuma Onoe¹⁵, Tomoya Yokota¹⁶, Yoshinori Imamura³, Yosuke Ariizumi⁵, Tetsuo Akimoto¹¹, Ryuichi Hayashi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Head and Neck Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
³ Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Center, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
⁵ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
⁷ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Gifu, Japan.
⁸ Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
⁹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Radiation Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
¹¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
¹² Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
¹³ Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Koto, Tokyo, Japan.
¹⁴ Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
¹⁵ Department of Medical Oncology, Hyogo Cancer Center, Akashi, Hyogo, Japan.
¹⁶ Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Sunto, Shizuoka, Japan.

PMID: 33290543
DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyaa220

Abstract

In order to maximize the benefit of induction chemotherapy, practice based on a comprehensive interpretation of a large number of clinical trials, as in this review, is essential. The standard treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is surgery or chemoradiation. However, induction chemotherapy followed by (chemo) radiotherapy may be used in some circumstances. Although many clinical trials of induction chemotherapy have been conducted, a rationale other than to preserve the larynx is still controversial. Selection of this modality should therefore be made with care. The current standard regimen for induction chemotherapy is docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-FU, but concerns remain about toxicity, cost and the duration of treatment. Regarding treatment after induction chemotherapy, it is also unclear whether radiation alone or chemoradiation is the better option. Furthermore, there is no answer as to what drugs should be used in combination with radiation therapy after induction chemotherapy. Several new induction chemotherapy treatment developments are currently underway, and future developments are expected. This review article summarizes the current position of induction chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, based on the evidence produced to date, and discusses the future prospects for this treatment.

Keywords: chemotherapy; head and neck; induction; organ preservation; squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
Chemoradiotherapy
Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
Humans
Induction Chemotherapy*
Neoplasm Staging
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / drug therapy*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / pathology*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / radiotherapy