[Chemotherapy for patients with local-regional recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck].

Chemotherapy has emerged to be a central component of curative strategies for patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The identification of agent active in head and neck cancer first occurred in patients with local regional recurrent and/or metastatic disease treated with palliative intent. The present paper reports the prognostic factors which based the understanding of these patients outcome. A review of the relevant results obtained by the standard chemotherapy in this recurrent population is performed. The current and future area of research were highlighted.