[FGFR-targeted therapy in head and neck carcinomas]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genetics
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Genomic aberrations and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR) pathway dysregulation are common in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).
• Targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal antibodies against FGFRs, offer a promising treatment strategy for HNSCC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of FGFR-directed therapies for head and neck tumors, with a focus on HNSCC.
• To discuss the role of FGFR pathway genomic alterations as potential companion predictive biomarkers for these therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature search of PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and conference proceedings.
• Review and synthesis of existing data on FGFR-targeted therapies and biomarkers in head and neck cancers.

Main Results:

• Early results indicate that TKIs are effective in treating HNSCC and other head and neck adenocarcinomas, including thyroid and adenocystic salivary gland carcinomas.
• FGFR-targeted TKIs demonstrate efficacy in preclinical and early clinical studies.

Conclusions:

• Biomarker-directed treatment using FGFR-targeted TKIs holds significant promise for patients with head and neck tumors.
• Further clinical investigation is warranted to fully establish the efficacy and predictive value of FGFR alterations in guiding HNSCC treatment.