Induction chemotherapy for squamous cell head and neck cancer: a neverending story?

Induction chemotherapy prior to planned definitive local therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has been studied for at least three decades but the debate on its role is still open. Recent landmark studies, including those presented at outstanding meetings and those still ongoing on induction chemotherapy in different clinical situations, are critically reviewed. Data confirm that a docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) based induction chemotherapy may be considered in clinical practice as one of the possible options when a larynx preservation strategy is attempted. On the contrary, current data do not support the use of induction chemotherapy before a planned surgical intervention for advanced oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors. Currently, for patients with locoregionally advanced unresectable disease, concomitant chemo-radiation remains the standard of care in waiting for results of the few ongoing studies that hopefully will clarify the role of induction TPF before either concomitant chemo-radiation or bio-radiation.