An update: emerging drugs to treat squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Subsequent to the 2006 FDA approval of cetuximab, a variety of molecular targeting agents have been evaluated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The treatment outcomes of recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC, in particular, remain dismal. The 2016 FDA approval of PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors has expanded the treatment options for R/M HNSCC and highlights the potential for immune-based therapies.

Areas covered: We will review the clinical application of EGFR-targeted agents, alone and in combination with other drugs. Molecular targeting agents directed against the IL6/PI3K/STAT3 signaling pathway will be covered. In addition, evaluation of immune checkpoint inhibitors in HNSCC, along with ongoing combination trials incorporating these agents, will be discussed. The expanded indications of emerging drugs and the potential clinical benefit of new drugs and treatment combinations will be summarized.

Expert opinion: In recent years, there has been a major shift toward immunotherapy-based approaches for the treatment of HNSCC, leading to significant improvements in outcomes for a subset of patients. Leveraging the increased understanding of the genetic alterations that characterize individual HNSCC tumors will facilitate precision medicine approaches using targeted agents, immunotherapies, as well as standard chemotherapy and radiation.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemotherapy
• epidermal growth factor receptor
• HPV
• immunotherapy
• molecular targeted therapy
• programmed cell death 1 receptor
• programmed cell death ligand 1
• head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• the Cancer Genome Atlas

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by [the National Institutes of Health] [grant number R01 DE024728 and P50 CA097190 to D.E.J.], [grant number R01 DE023685 and P50 CA097190 to J.R.G.], [the American Cancer Society] [grant number CRP-13-308-06-COUN to J.R.G.], and [National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)][grant number MSIP; 2016R1C1B1014827 to Y. S. L].