头颈部癌的特点是局部扩散和侵袭,随后,依原发灶的部位,而有规律地累及区域淋巴结。多数情况下,局部病变恶化的死亡率要高于远处转移者,故主要应采取放疗和手术。然而,仍有相当数量的病例发生复发或转移,故全身治疗是必要的。本文对头颈部癌,包括口腔、咽喉和鼻窦等部位的癌,在化疗方面的进展加以综述。 Head and neck cancers are characterized by local spread and invasion, followed by regular involvement of regional lymph nodes, depending on the location of the primary tumor. In most cases, the mortality rate of worsening local lesions is higher than that of distant metastases, so radiotherapy and surgery should be mainly used. However, there are still a considerable number of cases of recurrence or metastasis, so systemic treatment is necessary. This article reviews the progress of chemotherapy in head and neck cancers, including cancers of the oral cavity, throat and sinuses.