title: Overcoming radioresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Radiation therapy plays an essential role in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet therapeutic efficacy is hindered by treatment-associated toxicity and tumor recurrence. In comparison to other cancers, innovation has proved challenging, with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody cetuximab being the only new radiosensitizing agent approved by the FDA in over half a century. This review examines the physiological mechanisms that contribute to radioresistance in HNSCC as well as preclinical and clinical data regarding novel radiosensitizing agents, with an emphasis on those with highest translational promise.
authors.affiliation: USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: vyamamot@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Vicky N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Thylur
authors.affiliation: USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauschard
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmale
authors.affiliation: USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Uttam K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D000068818:Cetuximab
keywords: DNA damage; Head and neck cancer; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Molecular targeted therapy; Radiation resistance; Radiation-sensitizing agents; Radioresistance; Radiotherapy