ABSTRACT
Head and neck cancers (HNCs) include tumours arising from the following anatomical locations: oral cavity, pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx), larynx, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity and salivary glands. While the incidence of HNCs caused by known risk factors such as tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption has decreased lately, human papillomavirus (HPV)-related HNCs are on the rise. This chapter presents an overview of tumour site-related treatment techniques for the management of HNC, starting from the early days of surgery and radiotherapy until today. Nowadays, chemotherapy is part of the standard treatment regimen in order to improve overall outcome. Yet, tumour hypoxia and repopulation during treatment are two mechanisms that need a more targeted approach as they continue to be responsible for treatment failure. The hopes and letdowns in HNC therapy to tackle these aspects are presented in a radiobiological and clinical context.
