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Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer

H Carter Davidson1, Michael S Leibowitz, Andres Lopez-Albaitero

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Hillman Cancer Center Research Pavilion, PA 15213, United States.

Oral Oncology
|May 16, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCCHN) survival remains poor. Novel immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, show promise for controlling SCCHN with low toxicity.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) has seen limited survival improvements with conventional treatments.
  • Standard therapies for SCCHN are often toxic and lack sufficient efficacy.
  • There is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies in SCCHN management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current immunotherapeutic strategies for SCCHN.
  • To discuss emerging immunotherapy approaches in clinical trials and development for SCCHN patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trials and developmental research on cancer immunotherapy for SCCHN.
  • Focus on monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting growth factor receptors.
  • Examination of active vaccination strategies to stimulate cellular immunity against tumors.

Main Results:

  • Immunotherapy demonstrates low toxicity in clinical evaluations.
  • Immunotherapy shows potential in managing minimal residual disease and reducing distant metastases.
  • Emerging immunotherapies include mAb-based approaches and active vaccination strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Immunotherapy represents a promising novel therapeutic avenue for SCCHN.
  • Further clinical evaluation is essential to realize the full potential of immunotherapy in SCCHN.
  • Monoclonal antibodies and vaccination strategies are key emerging immunotherapeutic modalities for SCCHN.

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