Novel therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma--where are we

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is endemic in Southern China, and the South-East Asia including Hong Kong. We still see patients recur after primary treatment with radiotherapy or chemo-irradiation. Management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains one of the biggest clinical challenges. There have been breakthroughs in early detection, diagnosis, multi-modality treatment and also disease monitoring for NPC. Systemic treatment has been crucial to the management of locally advanced or metastatic NPC. With the advent of molecular targeted therapy and personalized medicine, novel therapies based on molecular targets of NPC have become the focus of research and development over the last decade. Furthermore, as NPC is tightly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, the role of tumor-associated viral antigens in NPC renders it an appealing candidate for cellular immunotherapy. This is a review of recent evolving concerted efforts and the success from our translational research with focus of the recent systemic novel targeted therapies including the potential role of immunotherapy which may offer further clinical benefit to our patients living with NPC. The scientific basis and latest published results of the relevant clinical trials are highlighted, demonstrating the ongoing battle against NPC is indeed one of the most fascinating successes in head and neck oncology.