[Anti-angiogenesis - a therapy concept in the treatment of head and neck carcinomas? A review].
BACKGROUND
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive malignancy that is now the sixth most common neoplasm in the world. Despite numerous advances in treatment, the long-term survival has remained the same for the last 25 years. Angiogenesis has been shown to be important for HNSCC tumour growth and metastasis. Therefore, inhibitors of angiogenesis are a new class of anti-neoplastic substances that might be a powerful complement to conventional therapy in HNSCC.


METHODS
The role of angiogenesis in HNSCC as well as preclinical and clinical trials concerning inhibitors of tumor-angiogenesis are discussed here.


RESULTS
Many of the investigated angiogenesis inhibitors demonstrated anti-tumor effects in preclinical and clinical trials. In a few cases, partial remission was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-angiogenic therapy will undoubtly have the potential to change standard tumor therapies. Some anti-angiogenic substances appear to be promising candidates for a clinical use in the therapy of HNSCC.
Riedel
F
F
Universitäts-Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik Mannheim, Klinikum, Mannheim. frank.riedel@hno.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Hörmann
K
K
D000328:Adult; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043168:Angiostatins; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D043168:Angiostatins; D010958:Plasminogen; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases