Abstract
Head and neck tumors are a heterogeneous group of tumors with different prognosis and response to treatment depending on location, stage and histological type of the tumor. Particular attention is focused on the treatment of metastatic and locally recurrent, unresectable tumors with limited local treatment options.
Systemic therapy is the main and preferred treatment modality in this group of patients. In the past, the treatment was based on palliative systemic chemotherapy.
Its effect was ambiguous and did not improve overall survival. In addition, the use of chemotherapy was associated with several types of side effects.
However, in the last ten years, palliative systemic therapy of head and neck tumors is in rapid progress in the light of targeted therapy. Therapy targeted on signal molecules and receptors located on the patienťs tumor cells and the immune system offers new perspectives which leads to improving global treatment results.
The advances are associated not only with improved overall survival but also in reduction of toxicity or side effects associated with treatment, which ultimately affects the quality of life of patients. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current possibilities of palliative systemic therapy for a group of head and neck tumors.