New approaches to radiotherapy of head and neck tumors

作者：Strojan Primoz^*

来源：Slovenian Medical Journal, 2010, 79(4): 339-353.

• cancer of the head and neck
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy
• technology

Background: Comparable to other diseases, the therapy of malignant tumors of the head and neck has been subject to radical changes in the last decade as well. The reasons lay in a rapid (bio) technological development and new knowledge in the field of radiobiology, including experiences gained through randomized clinical studies, which added significantly to the application of important new principles and approaches in the treatment of these tumors.
Methods and results: In the article, the most important novelties and findings in the field of radiotherapy and systemic therapy when combined with irradiation are described and evaluated. These are altered fractionation regimens, modulation of hypoxia, concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, new options in combining irradiation with systemic therapy (including biological agents), technological innovations, and infection with human papillomavirus.
Conclusions: The described novelties create a promising basis for further improvement of treatment results in this particular group of cancers.

• 出版日期2010-4