Current radiotherapy for recurrent head and neck cancer in the modern era: a state-of-the-art review

BACKGROUND: In the management of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, local recurrence is a common cause of treatment failure. Only a few patients with recurrent HNC (rHNC) are eligible for salvage surgery and the majority of patients receive systemic therapy and radiotherapy. In recent years, with the development of irradiation technology, radiotherapy for rHNC patients has markedly attracted clinicians’ attention and its therapeutic effects on patients with end-stage cancer are worthy of investigation as well. METHODS: Several studies have investigated the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of rHNC patients. We reviewed retrospective reports and prospective trials published in recent decades that concentrated on the management of rHNC. RESULTS: A growing body of evidence supported the application of irradiation to rHNC patients. According to the results of this review, current radiotherapy could achieve a better efficacy with a lower incidence of toxicity. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy is a promising treatment for rHNC patients.