2016_Head & Neck COURSE BOOK

Systemic therapy • Most studies of chemotherapy are retrospective, and no  d i d di h b f d ran om ze stu es ave een per orme • Response rates for induction therapy with e.g. cisplatin and 5‐ FU of up to 70% • The effect of chemotherapy on locoregional control, distant  metastases and survival is still unresolved (except SNUC and ,  SNEC) • Systemic therapy during RT should be used with caution – unexpected toxicity and complications may occur when  intensive multimodality regimens are used in this anatomical  area • Studies on the effect of other systemic therapies as  antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and radiosensitizers are  ongoing and results awaited