Stage I Laryngeal Cancer
Stage II Laryngeal Cancer
Stage III Laryngeal Cancer
Stage IV Laryngeal Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of stage I laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Supraglottic laryngectomy.

If cancer is in the glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Cordectomy.
• Partial laryngectomy, hemilaryngectomy, or total laryngectomy.
• Laser surgery.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• Surgery alone.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I laryngeal cancer ¹. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Treatment of stage II laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Supraglottic laryngectomy or total laryngectomy with or without radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Partial laryngectomy, hemilaryngectomy, or total laryngectomy.
• Laser surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• Surgery alone.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II laryngeal cancer ³. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Treatment of stage III laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis or glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, with or without laryngectomy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Laryngectomy plus total thyroidectomy and removal of lymph nodes in the throat, usually followed by radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III laryngeal cancer ⁴. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Treatment of stage IV laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis or glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Total laryngectomy with radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, with or without laryngectomy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Laryngectomy plus total thyroidectomy and removal of lymph nodes in the throat, usually with radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV laryngeal cancer ⁵. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ².

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

The use of drugs, vitamins, or other agents to try to reduce the risk of, or delay the development or recurrence of, cancer.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

An operation on the vocal cords or on the spinal cord.

The middle part of the larynx; the area where the vocal cords are located.

An operation to remove one side of the larynx (voicebox).

An operation to remove all or part of the larynx (voice box).

The area of the throat containing the vocal cords and used for breathing, swallowing, and talking. Also called voice box.

A surgical procedure that uses the cutting power of a laser beam to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.

A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph (lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels. Also called lymph gland.

An operation to remove part of the larynx (voice box).

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.

A drug that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Cancer is found only in the area where it started. Stage I laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx. If it started in the supraglottis, then cancer is in one area of the supraglottis only and the vocal cords can move normally. If it started in the glottis, then cancer is in one or both vocal cords and the vocal cords can move normally. If it started in the subglottis, then cancer is in the subglottis only.

Cancer that is found in the larynx. The exact definition of stage II depends on where the cancer started. If it started in the supraglottis, then cancer is in more than one area of the supraglottis or glottis or region near the supraglottis. If it started in the glottis, then cancer has spread to the supraglottis and/or the subglottis, and/or the vocal cords do not move normally. If it started in the subglottis, then cancer has spread to the vocal cords, which may not move normally.

In stage III laryngeal cancer, one of the following is found: (1) cancer is in the larynx only and the vocal cords do not move normally; cancer may have spread to tissues next to the larynx; cancer may have spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the original tumor and the lymph node is smaller than 3 centimeters; or (2) cancer is in one area of the larynx, the vocal cords move normally, and cancer is found in one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the original tumor; the lymph node is smaller than 3 centimeters; or (3) cancer is in more than one area of the larynx or in the vocal cords (which may not move normally) and in one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the original tumor; the lymph node is smaller than 3 centimeters.

Stage IV is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVA, one of the following is true: (1) cancer has spread through the thyroid cartilage and/or has spread to tissues beyond the larynx such as the neck, trachea, thyroid, or esophagus; cancer may have spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the original tumor and the lymph node is smaller than 3 centimeters; or (2) cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes anywhere in the neck and the lymph nodes are smaller than 6 centimeters; cancer may have spread to tissues beyond the larynx, such as the neck, trachea, thyroid, or esophagus. Vocal cords may not move normally. In stage IVB, one of the following is true: (1) cancer has spread to the space in front of the spinal column and surrounds the carotid artery, or has spread to parts of the chest and may have spread to one or more lymph nodes anywhere in the neck (the lymph nodes may be any size); or (2) cancer has spread to a lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters and may have spread as far as the space in front of the spinal column, around the carotid artery, or to parts of the chest. Vocal cords may not move normally. In stage IVC, cancer has spread beyond the larynx to distant parts of the body.

The lowest part of the larynx; the area from just below the vocal cords down to the top of the trachea.

An operation to remove the supraglottis, which is part of the larynx (voice box) above the vocal cords.

The upper part of the larynx (voice box), including the epiglottis; the area above the vocal cords.

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid.

An operation to remove all of the larynx (voice box).