As a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, head and neck cancer presents an important therapeutic challenge that has proven relatively resistant to attempts to improve patient outcomes over the past several decades. In recent years, molecular profiling of head and neck cancers has provided greater insight into their significant genetic heterogeneity, creating potential opportunities for novel therapies. Here, we discuss the most promising advances.
Limited progress in HNSCC treatment
Cancers of the nasal cavity, sinuses, mouth, lips, salivary glands, throat, and larynx, collectively called head and neck cancers, are the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The majority of head and neck cancer arises in the epithelial cells that line the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck and is known as squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). If caught in the early stages, HNSCC has a high cure rate with single-modality treatment with either surgery or radiation therapy (RT).1 However, a substantial proportion of patients present with advanced disease that requires multimodality therapy and has significantly poorer outcomes. Locally advanced HNSCC is typically treated with various combinations of surgery, RT, and chemotherapy and survival rates for all patients at 5 years are 40%- 60%, compared with 70%-90% for patients with early-stage disease.1,3 Up to half of locally advanced tumors relapse within the first 2 years after treatment. For patients with recurrent/metastatic disease, various chemotherapeutic regimens are available but median survival is typically less than a year.3-5
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