Emerging treatments

Bevacizumab

One phase 3 clinical trial looked at the overall survival of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.[67] The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy did not improve overall survival, but improved the response rate and progression-free survival with increased toxicities.[68]

Radiosensitising agents

Carbogen and nicotinamide, as radiosensitising agents (i.e., accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide [ARCON]), have been studied in one phase 3 trial. Despite lack of benefit in local tumour control for advanced laryngeal cancers, a significant gain in regional control rate, with equal levels of toxicity, was observed in favour of ARCON and more studies are needed to justify routine implementation.[69] Patient selection for hypoxia modifying treatments in larynx carcinomas Opens in new window

Photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy may be effective in treating carcinoma in situ and early laryngeal cancer but is still considered experimental. Data are available from case series and institutional experiences, but there is very little randomised data available.[70][71]

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