• Head and Neck Cancer Disease Site Group. Browman GP, Hodson DI, Newman T. The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) (excluding nasopharynx) [full report]. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2003 Feb [online update]. 10 p. (Practice guideline; no. 5-1). [36 references]

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should not be used in the routine management of patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck if the main objective is improved survival.

None provided

1996 Guideline
High quality evidence (randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses of trials) was available for review. The previous report (December, 1994) included 12 trials. Seven further trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and an additional four trials for the subgroup analysis of neoadjuvant plus adjuvant therapy were added. Some trials were published before 1994 but were missed in the literature search for the previous version of this guideline.

2003 Update
The updated literature search identified three published meta-analyses and twelve new or updated randomized trials that met the inclusion criteria. In addition, a follow-up study of quality-of-life data from a randomized trial cited in the 1996 guideline was located.

• Head and Neck Cancer Disease Site Group. Browman GP, Hodson DI, Newman T. The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) (excluding nasopharynx) [full report]. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2003 Feb [online update]. 10 p. (Practice guideline; no. 5-1). [36 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

1996 Feb 15 (updated online 2003 Feb)

Program in Evidence-based Care - State/Local Government Agency [Non-U.S.]

The Practice Guidelines Initiative (PGI) is the main project of the Program in Evidence-based Care (PEBC), a Province of Ontario initiative sponsored by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Cancer Care Ontario, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Provincial Head and Neck Cancer Disease Site Group

Members of the Head and Neck Cancer Disease Site Group disclosed potential conflict of interest information.

None available

This summary was completed by ECRI on August 19, 1999. The information was verified by the guideline developer as of September 17, 1999. This summary was updated by ECRI on December 3, 2001 and most recently on July 21, 2003. The most recent information was verified by the guideline developer as of August 6, 2003.