Long-term survival of a randomized phase III trial of head and neck cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation therapy with or without low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to prevent oral mucositis

Head and neck cancer, considering the oral cavity and pharynx regions (oropharynx, nasopharynx and hypopharynx), has high incidence and mortality compared to other cancer types, with 529,451 cases and 292,289 deaths estimated in the world in 2012 [1]. Nonetheless, the 5-year global survival of patients with oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer improved in the last 40years, from 55% in 1975 to 1977 to 66% in 2004 to 2010 [2]. The identification of oropharynx cancer associated with HPV in 1996 [3], with a better prognosis [4], has contributed to this improvement.

Source: Oral Oncology - June 3, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: H éliton S. Antunes, Daniel Herchenhorn, Isabele A. Small, Carlos M.M. Araújo, Celia Maria Pais Viégas, Gabriela de Assis Ramos, Fernando L. Dias, Carlos G. Ferreira Source Type: research