title: Novel targeted therapies in head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Molecularly targeted therapy, with the potential for increased selectivity and fewer adverse effects, hold promise in the treatment of HNSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Targeted agents for HNSCC expected to improve the effectiveness of current therapy including HER family, Src-family kinase, cell cycle, MET, AKT, HDAC, PARP, COX inhibitors and antiangiogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are established in HNSCC and the need now is to find biomarkers for sensitivity to better select patients. Moreover, other pathway inhibitors hold significant promise and are being tested in clinical trials. Angiogenesis inhibition is likely to yield only modest efficacy alone but may augment existing standards. Lastly, one clinical arena where targeted therapies may find secure purchase is in the adjuvant or prevention setting where minimal or preneoplastic disease can be affected by inhibition of a single or few targets.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana B A
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: João Paulo S N
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Ezra E W
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents