National Cancer Institute

at the National Institutes of Health

Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment

Information Summaries from PDQ

Hypopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ¹ [ health professional ] ²
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer.
Laryngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ³ [ health professional ] ⁴
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of laryngeal cancer.
Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ⁵ [ health professional ] ⁶
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of lip and oral cavity cancer.
Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ⁷ [ health professional ] ⁸
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary.
Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ⁹ [ health professional ] ¹⁰
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ¹¹ [ health professional ] ¹²
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer.
Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ¹³ [ health professional ] ¹⁴
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer.
Salivary Gland Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ¹⁵ [ health professional ] ¹⁶
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of salivary gland cancer.
Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ®)
[ patient ] ¹⁷ [ health professional ] ¹⁸
Expert-reviewed information summary about oral complications, such as mucositis and salivary gland dysfunction, that occur in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck.

Research Results

HPV Status Can Predict Outcome in Oropharyngeal Cancer ¹⁹
Patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer are more likely to survive if their tumors are HPV positive than if they are HPV negative, according to findings presented at the 2009 ASCO meeting in Orlando.
HPV Infection Drives Disparity in Head and Neck Cancer Survival ²⁰
A study published in the July 29, 2009 issue of Cancer Prevention Research shows that black patients with head and neck cancer have dramatically lower rates of HPV infection than white patients and that HPV status directly correlates with the significant survival differences between the two patient groups.
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) Plus Radiation Beneficial for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer ²¹
Compared to radiation alone, cetuximab plus radiation therapy improves overall survival of patients with advanced head and neck cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body, according to an article published online November 7, 2009, in Lancet Oncology.
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) Plus Chemo Extends Survival in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer ²²
Patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who received cetuximab (Erbitux®) in addition to standard chemotherapy lived about three months longer than those receiving chemotherapy alone, according to findings presented at the 2007 ASCO meeting in Chicago.

Related Treatment Information

Drugs Approved for Head and Neck Cancer ²³
This page lists cancer drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for head and neck cancer. The list includes generic names and brand names. The drug names link to NCI’s Cancer Drug Information summaries.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ²⁴
A fact sheet that describes the process of eliminating the blood supply to tumors. Lists the cancers in which this approach is being tested.
Lasers in Cancer Treatment ²⁵
A fact sheet that describes use of high-intensity light in cancer treatment, its advantages and disadvantages, and types of procedures that use it.
Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer ²⁶
A fact sheet that explains photodynamic therapy, how it is administered, and indications and side effects of treatment.
Radiation Therapy for Cancer ²⁷
A fact sheet that defines the different types of radiation therapy and discusses scientific advances that improve the effectiveness of this treatment.

Head and Neck Cancer Home Page ²⁸
NCI's gateway for information about head and neck cancer.
Head and Neck Cancer Trial Results ²⁹
Provides links to clinical trial results about head and neck cancer.

Table of Links
¹	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/hypopharyngeal/Patient
²	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/hypopharyngeal/HealthProfessio nal
³	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/laryngeal/Patient
⁴	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/laryngeal/HealthProfessional
⁵	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/Patient
⁶	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/HealthProf essional
⁷	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/metastatic-squamous-neck/Patie nt
⁸	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/metastatic-squamous-neck/Healt hProfessional
⁹	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/nasopharyngeal/Patient
¹⁰	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/nasopharyngeal/HealthProfessio nal
¹¹	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/oropharyngeal/Patient
¹²	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/oropharyngeal/HealthProfession al
¹³	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/paranasalsinus/Patient
¹⁴	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/paranasalsinus/HealthProfessio nal
¹⁵	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/salivarygland/Patient
¹⁶	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/salivarygland/HealthProfession al
¹⁷	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/Patient
¹⁸	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/HealthP rofessional
¹⁹	http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2009/oropharyngeal-hpv0609
²⁰	http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/081109/page2
²¹	http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2010/head-neck-cetuximab06 04
²²	http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2007/cetuximab-head-neck06 07
²³	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/head-and-neck-cancer
²⁴	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/angiogenesis-inhibitors
²⁵	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/lasers
²⁶	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/photodynamic
²⁷	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation
²⁸	http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/head-and-neck
²⁹	http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/type/head-and-neck

National Cancer Institute

at the National Institutes of Health

Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment

Information Summaries from PDQ

Research Results

Related Treatment Information

Related Pages

Table of Links