Development of new treatment modalities for advanced head and neck carcinomas

: In most new cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially in the pharynx and oral cavity, the tumors are advanced. Multidisciplinary treatments including chemotherapy in addition to definitive treatments, e.g., surgery and/or radiotherapy, have been applied. However, these treatments have not improved the poor prognosis for advanced head and neck carcinomas. A new curative treatment modality including chemotherapy and having a high complete response rate, e.g., a regimen consisting of taxanes, CDDP and 5-FU, is desirable. In addition, new therapeutic drugs against malignant solid tumors have been developed. The literature on thymidylate synthase inhibitor, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase inactivator, p-glycoprotein inhibitor, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody, antiangiogenic drugs, COX-2 inhibitor and retinoids that may be applied in cases of head and neck carcinoma in the future, are reviewed.