title: [Immunotherapy of head and neck cancer. Current developments].
abstract: In order to improve the prognosis for patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) the introduction of new therapeutic strategies is necessary. The concept of immunotherapy has been applied and improved for several years and recent studies have used tumor-specific antigens which facilitates targeted oncologic therapy. However, immunotherapy is hampered by the fact that immunosuppressive mechanisms are pronounced and relevant effector cells are suppressed, especially in patients with HNSCC. Successful immunotherapy could induce an antitumor immune response by restitution of these cell populations. Current anti-tumor immunotherapy includes unspecific immune stimulation, genetic modification of tumor and immune cells, the use of monoclonal antibodies, e.g. cetuximab, adoptive cell transfer and tumor vaccination. In the future, these biologic therapies alone or in combination with conventional therapeutic regimens could present a valuable therapeutic option for HNSCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten, Universität Duisburg-Essen. patrick.schuler@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Gauler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brandau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005544:Forecasting; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents