Taxanes in cancer of the head and neck.

Accumulating evidence from clinical trials has shown that taxanes are among the most active antitumor agents currently available for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. They are strong enhancers of the efficacy of radiotherapy in locally advanced cancer and are highly potent chemotherapeutic agents in recurrent/metastatic settings. Paclitaxel and docetaxel, prototypes of taxanes, are already well known and used in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, but a newer generation of taxanes is emerging and may possess stronger antitumor activity and/or decreased normal tissue toxicity. Acquired resistance to taxanes has become one of the major therapeutic obstacles, which hopefully will be overcome with a newer generation of taxanes, as our knowledge of the mechanism of resistance has improved.