Author
Dr. Nandini Sethi, Yashswi Chauhan, Neha
Keywords
Head and Neck Cancer; Multimodal Therapy; Chemoradiotherapy; Head and Neck Oncology; Immunotherapy; Multidisciplinary Cancer Treatment.
Abstract
Head and neck malignancies represent a heterogeneous group of cancers arising from the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and salivary glands. These cancers account for a significant proportion of global cancer morbidity and mortality, particularly in regions with high prevalence of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus infection. Due to the anatomical complexity of the head and neck region and the functional importance of these structures in speech, swallowing, and respiration, treatment requires carefully coordinated multidisciplinary care. This cross-sectional analytical study examines the effectiveness of multimodal treatment approaches among 192 patients. Combined treatment strategies involving surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy demonstrated the highest survival outcomes (F=6.51, p=0.001), particularly in patients with advanced-stage tumours. Integration of targeted therapies and immunotherapy also showed promising improvements in treatment response rates. The study emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, personalised treatment planning, and integration of emerging therapeutic technologies in improving outcomes for patients with head and neck malignancies.
References
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[3] Dimery, I. W., & Hong, W. K. (1993). Overview of combined modality therapies for head and neck cancer. JNCI, 85(2), 95–111.
[4] Franco, P., et al. (2016). Combined modality therapy for thoracic and head and neck cancers. Tumori Journal, 102(5), 459–471.
[5] Gibson, M. K., & Forastiere, A. A. (2004). Multidisciplinary approaches in the management of advanced head and neck tumors. Current Opinion in Oncology, 16(3), 220–224.
[6] Harrison, L. B., Sessions, R. B., & Hong, W. K. (Eds.). (2009). Head and neck cancer: a multidisciplinary approach. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
[7] Lango, M. N. (2009). Multimodal treatment for head and neck cancer. Surgical Clinics of North America, 89(1), 43–52.
[8] Lo Nigro, C., et al. (2017). Head and neck cancer: improving outcomes with a multidisciplinary approach. Cancer Management and Research, 363–371.
[9] Mick, R., et al. (1991). Prognostic factors in advanced head and neck cancer patients undergoing multimodality therapy. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 105(1), 62–73.
[10] Mody, M. D., & Saba, N. F. (2020). Multimodal therapy for sinonasal malignancies. Current Treatment Options in Oncology, 21(1), 4.
[11] Mody, M. D., et al. (2021). Head and neck cancer. The Lancet, 398(10318), 2289–2299.
[12] Pannunzio, S., et al. (2024). Multimodality treatment in recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. Frontiers in Oncology, 13, 1288695.
[13] Rao, Y. J., et al. (2023). Integrating immunotherapy into multimodal treatment of head and neck cancer. Cancers, 15(3), 672.
[14] Sarris, E. G., et al. (2014). Multimodal treatment strategies for elderly patients with head and neck cancer. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 40(3), 465–475.
[15] Sharma, A., Schwartz, S. M., & Mendez, E. (2013). Hospital volume is associated with survival but not multimodality therapy in Medicare patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Cancer, 119(10), 1845–1852.
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[18] Ashifa, K. M. (2019). Developmental initiatives for persons with disabilities: Appraisal on village-based rehabilitation of Amar Seva Sangam. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 10(12), 1257–1261.
[19] Rasi, R. A., & Ashifa, K. M. (2019). Role of community-based programmes for active ageing: Elders self-help group in Kerala. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 10(12).
[20] Ashifa, K. M. (2020). Effect of substance abuse on physical health of adolescents. European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, 7(2), 3155–3160.
[21] Ashifa, K. M. (2020). Physical health hazards of schizophrenia patients. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 11(12), 1848–1850.
[22] Ashifa, K. M. (2021). Analysis on the determinants of health status among tribal communities. Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research, 12(3), 531–534.
[23] Ashifa, K. M. (2021). Health status of primitive tribal women in India. Journal of Cardiovascular Disease Research, 12(5), 772.
[24] Ashifa, K. M. (2022). A situation analysis of the social well-being of elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(3), 10156–10163.
[25] Ashifa, K. M., & Ramya, P. (2019). Health afflictions and quality of work life among women working in fireworks industry. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology, 8(6S3), 1723–1725.
[26] Basha, R., Pathak, P., Sudha, M., Soumya, K. V., & Arockia Venice, J. (2025). Optimization of quantum dilated convolutional neural networks: Image recognition with quantum computing. Internet Technology Letters, 8(3), e70027.
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[29] Elkin, N., Mohammed, A. K., Kilincel, S., Soydan, A. M., Tanriver, S. C., Celik, S., & Ranganathan, M. (2025). Mental health literacy and happiness among university students: A social work perspective to promoting well-being. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1541316.
[30] Gayathri, R. K., Vettriselvan, R., Rajesh, D., Balakrishnan, R., Kumar, R., & Kavitha, J. (2025). Striking a Balance: Mental Health Challenges and Work-Life Integration among Women Faculty in Indian B-Schools. Texila International Journal of Public Health, 13(2).
[31] Gayathri, R. K., Vettriselvan, R., Rajesh, D., Balakrishnan, R., Kumar, R., & Kavitha, J. (2025). Strategic Role of Human Resource Management in Enhancing Occupational Health and Safety Practices in Business Schools in India. Texila International Journal of Public Health, 13(2).
[32] Jenifer, R. D., Vettriselvan, R., Saxena, D., Velmurugan, P. R., & Balakrishnan, A. (2025). Green Marketing in Healthcare Advertising: A Global Perspective. In AI Impacts on Branded Entertainment and Advertising (pp. 303-326). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
[33] Kariveliparambil, A., Rasi, R. A., Ahmad, M. S., Oztas, N., & Ayan, F. S. (2026). Evolving Social Capital in Indigenous Communities: Perspectives on Trust, Reciprocity, and Cultural Preservation Among Irula Elders. Journal of Social Service Research, 52(1), 147–166.
[34] Mustafa, N., Zahoor, H., Gamil, R. E., Ashifa, K. M., & Safaei, M. (2026). Empowering future caregivers: the role of self-leadership in reducing stress among nursing students. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 39(1), 74-103.
[35] Natraj, N. A., Abirami, T., Ananthi, K., Venice, J. A., Chandru, R., & Rathish, C. R. (2024). The Impact of 5G Technology on the Digital Supply Chain and Operations Management Landscape. In Applications of New Technology in Operations and Supply Chain Management (pp. 289-311). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
[36] Ranganathan, M., Jacob, A., Ashifa, K. M., Kumar, G. J., Anthony, M., Vijay, M., & Kumari, R. B. (2024). An investigation of the effects of chronic stress on attention in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Universal Journal of Public Health, 12(1), 37–50.
[37] Shanthi, H. J., Gokulakrishnan, A., Sharma, S., Deepika, R., & Swadhi, R. (2025). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Urban Health: Applications, Challenges, and Innovations. In Nexus of AI, Climatology, and Urbanism for Smart Cities (pp. 275-306). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
[38] Swadhi, R., Gayathri, K., Suresh, N. V., Catherine, S., & Velmurugan, P. R. (2025). Leveraging Machine Learning for Enhanced Patient Engagement and Outcomes: Revolutionizing Healthcare Marketing. In Impact of Digital Transformation on Business Growth and Performance (pp. 313-340). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
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[42] Venice, J. A., Vettriselvan, R., Jain, S., Madusudanan, K., & Aarthy, C. C. J. (2025). Performance Evaluation and Metrics in Blockchain Powered AI/ML: Data Analytics for Cognitive Internet of Things (CIoT). In Transforming Education With AI-Powered Personalized Learning (pp. 143-178). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
[43] Venice, A., Swadhi, R., Gayathri, K., Chandra, P., & Sajana, K. P. (2026). Rehabilitation Robotics and Adaptive Motion Planning for Patient-Centric Care. In Intelligent Motion Control for Human-Centered Systems (pp. 51-76). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
[44] Vettriselvan, R. (2025). Harnessing innovation and digital marketing in the era of industry 5.0: resilient healthcare SMEs. In The Future of Small Business in Industry 5.0 (pp. 163-186). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
[45] Vettriselvan, R., & Anto, M. R. (2018). Pathetic health status and working condition of Zambian women. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 9(9), 259-264.
Received : 13 February 2026
Accepted : 28 April 2026
Published : 30 April 2026
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v13.i2.2026.13249