Head and neck cancers
Other drug therapies
Last updated:
Sources and references 
Some head and neck cancers – most commonly those that have come back – may be treated with other drug therapies that reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic therapies). These may include targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which work in different ways to chemotherapy. They can be combined with other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Targeted therapy – Targeted therapy targets specific features of cancer cells to stop the cancer growing and spreading. Tests may be done on a biopsy sample to look for these specific features. Each targeted therapy drug works on a particular feature, and the drug will only be given if the cancer cells have that feature.
For some head and neck cancers, targeted therapy drugs are occasionally used when people cannot take the standard chemotherapy drug or the cancer is advanced.u.
Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The main type of immunotherapy drugs used in Australia are called checkpoint inhibitors. They help the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors may be used to treat some types of advanced head and neck cancer.
New targeted therapy and immunotherapy drugs are often studied in clinical trials. Ask your doctor if this is an option for you.
Treatments for head and neck cancers
Sources and references
This edition has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative.
We thank the reviewers of this booklet: Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Cynleen Kai, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, VIC; Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital, Epworth Richmond, and Monash Medical Centre, VIC; Helen Benny, Consumer; Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, NSW; Kim Greco, Specialist head and neck cancers Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Marco Salvador, Consumer; Janene Shelton, xxx Foundation Australia – Specialist head and neck cancers Nurse, Darling Downs Health, QLD; Prof Emily Stone, Respiratory Physician, Department of Thoracic Medicine and xxx Transplantation, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; A/Prof Marianne Weber, Stream Lead, head and neck cancers Policy and Evaluation, The Daffodil Centre, NSW.
We would also like to thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
References
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (US), NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Head and Neck Cancers, Version 2.2025.
- J-P Machiels et al., “Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx: EHNS–ESMO–ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment
and follow-up”, Annals of Oncology, vol. 31, iss. 11, 2020, pp. 1462–75. - P Bossi et al., “Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: ESMO–EURACAN Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up”, Annals of Oncology, vol. 32, iss. 4, 2020, pp. 452–65.
- C Resteghini et al., “Sinonasal malignancy: ESMO–EURACAN Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up”, ESMO Open, vol. 10, iss. 2, 2025.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Cancer Data in Australia 2025, AIHW, Canberra, viewed 29 October 2025, aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia.
Head and neck cancers
Cancer Council 13 11 20
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Guide to best cancer care
This head and neck cancers guide explains the standard of high-quality cancer care that all Australians can expect, from diagnosis, to treatment, recovery, and living with cancer.