Impact of integrated treatments on patient management in solid tumors: from diagnosis to palliative care.

In consideration of the complexity of tumours, the modern and also the best approach to treat the neoplastic diseases is multi-modality therapy. Evidence suggests that this approach to cancer offers a patient the greatest change of survival. Actually, the involvement of a team of specialists warrants different expertise for the formulation of an appropriate treatment plan individualized for each patient, based upon tumour stage, medical conditions and patient preferences. Treatments are continually being updated and improved and the new treatment options provide fresh opportunities for controlling tumours and reducing morbidity and mortality. New developments in molecular biology and drug discovery are continually moving from the laboratory to clinical practice. This article reviews the role of integrated treatments in breast cancer, a common malignancy in women, and in head and neck cancers, that encompass a diverse group of uncommon tumours and frequently are aggressive in their biological behaviour. Careful evaluation of biological prognostic factors, performance status along with determination of life expectancy and preferences, represent the relevant information on which the oncologists should ground their decision for integrated treatments or attenuated or palliative measures, in order to maximize the balance of benefits and toxicities. Improving quality of life for patients with incurable disease remains an important goal for oncologists and is equally important as cure.