Despite advances in multimodality therapies for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of
the head and neck (SCCHN), survival rates, functional outcomes and toxicities of therapy
remain poor. The recognition of the prognostic value of human papillomavirus (HPV) status,
and the advent of biologically targeted therapies with potential for decreased toxicities and
increased selectivity, represent significant developments in our understanding of SCCHN.
Targeted agents currently approved or under investigation for SCCHN include epidermal …

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world. In the US alone,
HNC accounts for 3–5% of all malignancies annually. Squamous cell carcinoma arising from
the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract is the most common type of HNC and accounts
for 90% of HNC diagnoses. Despite continued advances in the therapeutic options, the
disease-free survival, functional outcome, toxicity of therapy and overall survival have
remained less than optimal for patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic …