Intraarterial therapy of head and neck cancer

Patients with advanced, resectable squamous cell cancers of the head and neck continue to have a poor prognosis, including significant morbidity. In patients with advanced head and neck cancer, traditional therapy is associated with significant morbidity due to organ dysfunction, Concomitant intraarterial chemoembolization and radiation have been found to be a potent regional therapy with a high initial response rate for most squamous cell cancers of the head and neck region. This regimen allows for preservation of organ function and significantly improves the patient's quality of life. The initial results await confirmation based on a longer term follow-up interval and subsequently a clinical trial comparing this approach to "standard therapy." This article reviews the rationale and technique of intraarterial chemoembolization and summarizes the current understanding of its efficacy, It is based on our experience at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, where we have treated 213 patients to date using the methods described here.