Ways to improve the results of conservative therapy of malignant tumors of the head and neck organs. Part II. Oropharyngeal Cancer (a review)

This review analyzes treatment outcomes in patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the use of modern high-technology treatment modalities, management of this patient population remains a challenging clinical problem. As with other malignant tumors of the head and neck, the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches depends on multiple factors, including disease stage, tumor localization, treatment modality, HIV status, and other clinical variables. Surgical and reconstructive procedures are not indicated for most patients, which is attributable to the complex anatomical structure of the oropharyngeal region and the severe general condition of patients due to advanced disease. Therefore, conservative treatment modalities are preferable in the majority of cases, including radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy (or without it) or targeted therapy. However, many conservative treatment modalities are accompanied by pronounced local or systemic toxic effects, which hinder completion of the planned therapy and, in some cases, result in patient death. Thus, the search for strategies to improve treatment outcomes in patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer remains a relevant issue in oncology. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of antitumor therapy in patients with human papillomavirus–associated oropharyngeal cancer.