title: Molecular biology of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: relevance and therapeutic implications.
abstract: More than 90% of all head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. Despite advances in the management of patients with this disease, the survival rate has not been significantly improved. Several mechanisms of carcinogenesis have been elucidated and molecular targeted agents seem to be promising therapeutic tools. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody inhibitor of the EGF receptor, improves survival rates in association with radiotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) or in palliative disease, and is nowadays the only targeted agent approved in this indication. Other targeted agents are also clinically relevant to the treatment of different malignancies, including SCCHN. This article focuses on the major molecular pathways implicated in SCCHN carcinogenesis and provides an overview of their therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Centre du Cancer, Department of Medical Oncology, Clinique de Cancérologie Cervico-Maxillo-Faciale, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. sandra.schmitz@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Jean-Pascal
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Machiels
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1