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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Review

Head and neck cancer: metronomic chemotherapy

Authors: Francesca De Felice, Daniela Musio, Vincenzo Tombolini

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

In the era of personalized medicine, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a critical oncologic topic. Conventional chemotherapy regimens consist of drugs administration in cycles near or at the maximum tolerated dose (MDT), followed by a long drug-free period to permit the patient to recover from acute toxicities. Despite this strategy is successful in controlling the cancer process at the beginning, a significant number of HNSCC patients tend to recurred or progress, especially those patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. The repertoire of drugs directed against tumor cells has greatly increased and metronomic chemotherapy (MC) could be an effective treatment option.
It is the purpose of this article to review the concept of MC and describe its potential use in HNSCC. We provide an update of ongoing progress and current challenges related to this issue.
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Metadata
Title
Head and neck cancer: metronomic chemotherapy
Authors
Francesca De Felice
Daniela Musio
Vincenzo Tombolini
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-015-1705-z

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