Abstract: Platinum-based chemotherapy has become an indispensable part in the comprehensive treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Chemotherapy can be used concurrently with radiotherapy (CCRT) for curative treatment of locally advanced HNSCC. CCRT is also widely applied after surgery for patients with high risk factors. In addition, chemotherapy is used before surgery or radiation (also known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy), or after radiotherapy (adjuvant chemotherapy). CCRT is particularly important for locally advanced HNSCC. Several commonly used platinum drugs all have their own advantages and disadvantages in the treatment of HNSCC. This review includes the anticancer mechanisms and the efficacy and toxicities of the platinum drugs. In addition, several different dosing schedules are listed (high doses given every 3 weeks, moderate doses given weekly, single-agent platinum versus multi-agent platinum-containing regimens), the short and long term survival data and toxicities are also provided, with the hope to give useful information for clinicians.

Key words: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Nedaplatin, Oxaliplatin