Current Aspects and Future Considerations of EGFR Inhibition in Locally Advanced and Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.
Bhamini PatelNabil F SabaPublished in: Cancers (2021)
Recurrent metastatic (RM) and locally advanced (LA) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are devasting disease states with limited therapeutic options and poor overall survival. Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one area that has helped improve outcomes in this disease. Anti-EGFR based therapies have been shown to improve overall survival and mitigate the significant toxicities incurred from standard radiation, chemotherapy, and/or surgical options. Cetuximab, the most well-studied anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated a positive impact on outcomes for RM and LA SCCHN. However, the development of early resistance to cetuximab highlights the need for a wider arsenal of therapy for RM and LA diseases. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has recently transformed the treatment of recurrent SCCHN. Drugs such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab have demonstrated success in recent clinical trials and have been approved for the treatment of advanced disease. Given the positive results of both EGFR targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors, ongoing trials are studying their synergistic effects.
Keyphrases
- epidermal growth factor receptor
- locally advanced
- squamous cell carcinoma
- tyrosine kinase
- small cell lung cancer
- advanced non small cell lung cancer
- neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- rectal cancer
- phase ii study
- radiation therapy
- monoclonal antibody
- clinical trial
- cancer therapy
- lymph node metastasis
- combination therapy
- randomized controlled trial
- insulin resistance
- radiation induced
- solid state
- phase iii