review of chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancers

Context: Chemoradiation provides a survival advantage as well as increased rate of organ preservation compared with radiation alone in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [LAHNSCC]

Evidence Acquisition: Combined modality protocols can be used in 3 forms: a] induction chemotherapy or neoadjuvant therapy before definitive surgery or radiotherapy, b] Concurrent chemo- radiotherapy, and c] sequential therapy consisting of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemo radiation

Results: Despite an improvement in organ preservation, induction treatment has no impact on survival. Ongoing phase III trials comparing sequential therapy with concurrent chemoradiation may establish which of these two approaches is superior

Conclusions: Until those trials have been completed, Taxane- based sequentional therapy can be a reasonable alternative to concurrent chemo radiotherapy in the patients with locally advanced disease

[Effect of matrica mouth wash on prevention of head and neck radiotherapy induced-stomatitis]

Oral care and using mouthwash help to prevent stomatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two mouth wash protocols on prevention of head and neck radiotherapy induced-stomatitis. In this single blind clinical trial, 120 individual were recruited. The experiment group [N=40] gurgled with 3cc of Matrices mouthwash and the control group used water mouth wash. The participants were assessed using the WHO grading scale. Data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. There was not significant differences between the experimental and control groups regarding stomatitis intensity in the first day [P=0.371]. There were significant differences between the two groups regarding stomatitis intensity in days 7 and 14 [P<0.001]. Oral stomatitis is a common condition in patients with head and neck radiotherapy. It makes painful ulcers, dehydration, malnutrition, and potentially life-threatening infection. Matrica mouth wash could prevent and treat induced-radiotherapy ulcer stomatitis