What is the preferred primary route of treatment for patients with advanced laryngeal cancer?

The preferred primary route of treatment for patients with advanced laryngeal cancer is often radiation with chemotherapy, also known as chemoradiation. This approach is favored because it combines the effects of both modalities to enhance treatment efficacy.

In advanced laryngeal cancer, the goal is to maximize tumor control while also preserving as much laryngeal function as possible to maintain the patient's quality of life. Chemotherapy can sensitize cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to the damaging effects of radiation. Additionally, chemoradiation can help reduce the size of the tumor, potentially allowing for better surgical options if needed in the future.

Other methods, such as surgical excision or radiation alone, may be used in specific scenarios or at different stages of cancer but do not generally provide the same balance of efficacy and preservation of function in advanced cases. Surgical options may come with higher risks of complications and morbidity, while radiation alone might not be sufficient to treat the aggressive nature of advanced laryngeal cancer effectively. Therefore, the combination of radiation and chemotherapy is established as a more effective and preferred approach for treatment in this context.