Modern aspects of treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Objectives. To study modern approaches, the results of treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Materials and methods. Most patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have a locally advanced tumor process at the time of treatment. Initially, the tactics of combined treatment with preoperative irradiation were adopted. In 1999, the results of a randomized trial of RTOG 73-03, which convincingly demonstrated the benefits of postoperative irradiation over preoperative radiation, were published. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck of high risk are candidates for more aggressive adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). An important role in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is attributed to targeted therapy and intraarterial regional chemotherapy. Conclusions. The development of methods for treating patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck includes a combination of radiotherapy (neoadjuvant, adjuvant) with chemotherapy (as a radiomodification, neoadjuvant, adjuvant, targeted therapy, intraarterial chemotherapy) followed by surgical treatment, which improves the disease-free period, and also three-, five-year survival rate.