CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUG-RESISTANCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HEAD AND NECK-CANCER

Considerable progress has been made in the development of more effecti ve chemotherapy regimens for squamous cell head and neck carcinomas. U nfortunately, increased response rates have not been translated into m arked improvements in survival since durations of response have been b rief, and the natural history of the disease has ultimately remained u naltered. Since the development of drug resistance is a major obstacle to successful antineoplastic chemotherapy, comprehensive efforts have been focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms. In this revi ew, general and specific aspects of drug resistance related to head an d neck cancer are addressed. In particular, mechanisms of resistance t owards the most widely used antineoplastic drugs in head and neck mali gnancies - methothrexate, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, bleomycin, and vi ncristine - are discussed.