Intensive Chemoradiotherapy as a Primary Treatment for Organ Preservation in Patients With Advanced Cancer of the Head and Neck

Abstract

High rates of locoregional disease control and organ preservation are achievable with primary chemoradiotherapy in patients with advanced SCCHN, but they are associated with severe treatment-related toxic effects. Despite this effective local and regional disease control, improved survival is hampered by the relatively high incidence of distant metastasis, second primary tumors, and comorbidity.