Head and neck cancers, the 6th most common cancer worldwide, are genetically complex. Tobacco, alcohol and HPV are the main risk factors. Due to its complex formation mechanisms, there are difficulties in its treatment. Despite chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, no significant progress has been made in terms of disease-free survival, quality of life, recurrence and distant metastasis. For this reason, studies on effective targeted therapies for developmental pathways continue both experimentally and clinically.
There are many studies on classical targets like Phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/ Protein kinase B/ mammalian Target of Rapamycin pathway, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor signaling, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor signaling, Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor signaling, and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Signal Regulatory Kinase signaling. Cetuximab, pembrolizumab and nivolumab have been approved and are among the molecules used in the clinic.
Beside classical targets, there are new studies on Hepatocyte Growth Factor signaling, Cyclin Dependent Kinase 4/6 inhibitor and Notch signaling.
It is estimated that the new molecules, which are expected to have less side-effect profiles compared to other treatment modalities, can be used either alone or in addition to the existing treatment. Reducing resistance to radiotherapy and reducing the serious side effects of chemotherapy are among the expected targets.
Although one of the goals of targeted therapies is to limit side effects to more specific effects, they can also create serious non-target side effects that can lead to treatment failure.
The increasing number of new patients, the inability to achieve significant success in treatments and serious side effects necessitate new studies.