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Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive epithelial malignancy that is now the sixth most common neoplasm in the world today. Approximately 50,000 cases in the United States and more than 500,000 cases worldwide will be diagnosed in 2000 [1]. Despite numerous advances in treatment utilising the most recent protocols for surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the long-term survival has remained at less than 50% over the past 40 years [2]. This poor long-term survival is due to a number of variables including delayed diagnosis as well as the frequent development of multiple primary tumours. Therefore, in addition to early detection, continued emphasis must be placed on preventing the development of new primaries as well as establishing more effective treatments for individuals who present with advanced disease. This review will summarise some of the recent advances in the realms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In addition, it will discuss the present status of chemoprevention in HNSCC. Finally, we will discuss the rationale for the use of anti-angiogenic agents as one possible means of developing new chemopreventive protocols that result in reduced toxicity while maintaining similar clinical efficacies.