Persistent Inflammation as a Cause of Severe Late Complications in Chemoradiotherapy-treated Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Abstract

Radiotherapy, particularly concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT), significantly improves disease control and survival rates in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). However, these gains are frequently accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of serious complications impairing the patient's functionality and life quality, which mainly manifest as a result of the underlying chronic systemic inflammation. According to existing evidence, discovering novel immunological and inflammatory biomarkers before therapy may be beneficial in predicting post-treatment debilitating oral cavity complications. The use of such biomarkers might be beneficial in identifying high-risk individuals and guiding their treatment and follow-up measures. As a result, the present review aims to present the current evidence as well as the likely pathways linking chronic inflammation to the occurrence of severe long-term C-CRT complications, with a particular focus on dental losses after treatment, which may aid in identifying high-risk patients and implementing preventive or therapeutic measures for them on time.