Combined and sequential treatment of oral and maxillofacial malignancies: an evolving concept and clinical protocol.

Objective: To introduce the concept and rational regimens and present the latest development of combined treatment of oral and maxillofacial malignancies. Data sources The related published literature was searched through the CNKI database and MEDLINE using the terms of oral cancer, oral and maxillofacial malignancies, combined and sequential therapy, multidisciplinary approach. Study selection The available related literature was read and evaluated. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected.

Results: The results show that oral and maxillofacial malignancies diagnosed at an early stages (stages I and II) can be well treated with surgery alone and/or radiotherapy with optimal outcome, but advanced or recurrent diseases should be treated with rational combined and sequential treatment modalities. The use of concomitant chemoradiotherapy, taxane-containing, three-drug induction regimens and Cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy demonstrated favorable results in previously untreated patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusions: The concept of combined and sequential treatment of advanced oral and maxillofacial malignancies should be widely accepted, and the rational regimen for individual and each type of entity should be determined based on the anatomical site and the patient's performance status.