Current Development and Research Trend of Chemotherapeutic Agents for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

After FDA approval of cetuximab at 2006, receptor tyrosine kinase, including an epidermal growth factor receptor, blocking agents have been evaluated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Agents targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR, IL-6/JAK/STAT3, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and cyclin D-CDK-4/6-INK4/Rb pathway have developed. Most of them have failed to demonstrate better treatment outcome in recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC than conventional chemotherapy. Since a pivotal role of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in immunological tumor microenvironment was revealed, the immune checkpoint inhibitors, including pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have opened new paradigm of cancer treatment modality and propagates other immune-based therapies for R/M HNSCC. Various types of combination trials consisting of immunotherapy with other class of immunotherapy, targeted agents, radiation therapy, or conventional chemotherapy have been under investigation to improve treatment outcome. Biomarker studies to find an optimal candidate for the newly developed agents are accompanied. These clinical trials lead to tailored approach based on immunotherapy with precision medicine is expected to lead to promising results.