Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2025
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
Novel Systemic Treatment Modalities Including Immunotherapy and Molecular Targeted Therapy for Recurrent and
Soma Ghosh1, Pooja A Shah1, Faye M Johnson1,2
1Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 432, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Abstract:
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are the sixth most common cancers worldwide. More than half of patients with HNSCC eventually experience disease recurrence and/or metastasis, which can threaten their long-term survival. HNSCCs located in the oral cavity and larynx are usually associated with tobacco and/or alcohol use, whereas human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly HPV16 infection, is increasingly recognized as a cause of oropharyngeal HNSCC. Despite clinical, histologic, and molecular differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCCs, current treatment approaches are the same. For recurrent disease, these strategies include chemotherapy, immunotherapy with PD-1-inhibitors, or a monoclonal antibody, cetuximab, that targets epidermal growth factor; these therapies can be administered either as single agents or in combination. However, these treatment strategies carry a high risk of toxic side effects; therefore, more effective and less toxic treatments are needed. The landscape of HNSCC therapy is changing significantly; numerous clinical trials are underway to test novel therapeutic options like adaptive cellular therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, new targeted therapy agents, novel immunotherapy combinations, and therapeutic vaccines. This review helps in understanding the various developments in HNSCC therapy and sheds light on the path ahead in terms of further research in this field.
Insights
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are common globally. Current treatments for recurrent HNSCCs have toxic side effects, driving the need for novel, less toxic therapeutic options.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are the sixth most common cancer globally.
- Over half of HNSCC patients experience recurrence or metastasis, significantly impacting survival.
- While HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCCs differ, current treatments remain uniform.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging therapeutic strategies for HNSCC.
- To highlight the need for more effective and less toxic treatments.
- To provide insight into future research directions in HNSCC therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current treatment modalities for recurrent HNSCC, including chemotherapy, PD-1 inhibitors, and cetuximab.
- Discussion of the limitations and toxicities associated with existing therapies.
- Exploration of novel therapeutic approaches currently under investigation in clinical trials.
Main Results:
- Current treatments for recurrent HNSCC, though varied, carry a high risk of toxic side effects.
- Emerging therapies such as adaptive cellular therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, and novel immunotherapy combinations show promise.
- Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating a wide range of new treatment options.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for the development of more effective and less toxic treatments for HNSCC.
- The therapeutic landscape for HNSCC is rapidly evolving with numerous promising novel agents and strategies.
- Further research and clinical trials are essential to advance HNSCC patient care and improve outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...