Pharmacotherapy for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies, the treatment of which constitutes a therapeutic challenge.


METHODS
the purpose of this review is to provide an update on the pharmacotherapy for the treatment of HNSCC focusing mainly on molecular-targeted therapies. An overview of the different novel therapeutic agents that can selectively inhibit signaling pathways and receptors that are involved in the development and progression of cancer especially in HNSCC is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
the treatment of HNSCC is traditionally based on surgery and radiotherapy for early-stage HNSCC; however, chemotherapy is no longer used only for palliation, and individualized patient treatment assisted by molecular-targeted therapies represents a future therapeutic challenge.
Philipp University Marburg, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Deutschhausstrasse 3, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
Giorgos
G
Papaspyrou
Jochen A
JA
Werner
Andreas
A
Dietz
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents