Early stage of diagnosis is crucial for laryngeal cancer since the organ and function preservation is wanted from the treating physicians. Currently the optimal care of patients with laryngeal cancer is truly multidisciplinary, with progressive advances in surgical, radiation, and medical oncology. Moreover; molecular targeted therapies are on their way. Take home message: The treatment of patients with laryngeal cancer with systemic therapy represents an opportunity to positively impact functional outcomes with an anatomically and functionally preserved larynx. Future challenges include identification of novel molecular pathways that upregulate tumorigenesis and suppression of these.
Nowadays treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngel cancer is not defined only by surgical resection. Multimodality treatment approach is considered the best approach for patients. Currently treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. The goal with combination treatment approach is to preserve organ and function. In the past years unfortunately we had to deal with mutilating and function destroying treatment. In the past 25 years, evidences from large randomized trials presented data that organ preservation studies using sequential and concomitant radio-chemotherapy do not compromise survival when compared with surgery followed by radiotherapy. The side effects from multimodality treatment approach has to take into account and the final goal has to be not only organ preservation but also function preservation. In the current review we focus on the most common treatment options. We conclude that there is an urgent need to refine the definition of a functional organ and to refine recommendations for evaluating treatment response.
Early stages of head and neck cancer require concomitant administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Currently platinum, taxane and fluoruracil analogs are being administered. On the other hand, for advanced stages extensive surgery is required. During the last years, several molecular characteristics have been identified in the tissue of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and novel treatment options are being pursued. In this review we will elucidate these molecular pathways that could be used as a possible treatment.
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