Purpose of review: To assess the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced squamous head and neck cancer.
Recent findings: Several phase III clinical trials in locally advanced squamous head and neck cancer show promising results for neoadjuvant platinum, taxane, and fluorouracil chemotherapy prior to definitive radiation or concurrent chemoradiation.
Summary: Clinical trials comparing cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil with or without a taxane followed by radiation or concurrent chemoradiation show that the three-drug induction chemotherapy may improve survival particularly for unresectable tumors. Clinical trials comparing chemoradiation with and without induction three-drug chemotherapy are ongoing. Molecular and clinical considerations for using neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancers are being explored.