Translational Insights and New Therapeutic Perspectives in Head and Neck Tumors

• Main Authors: Morena Fasano, Francesco Perri, Carminia Maria Della Corte, Raimondo Di Liello, Giuseppina Della Vittoria Scarpati, Marco Cascella, Alessandro Ottaiano, Fortunato Ciardiello, Raffaele Solla
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Biomedicines
• Subjects: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; immunotherapy; DNA damage response; epithelial growth factor receptor
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/8/1045

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by a high mortality rate owing to very few available oncological treatments. For many years, a combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab has represented the only available option for first-line therapy. Recently, immunotherapy has been presented an alternative for positive PD-L1 HNSCC. However, the oncologists’ community foresees that a new therapeutic era is approaching. In fact, no-chemo options and some molecular targets are on the horizon. This narrative review addresses past, present, and future therapeutic options for HNSCC from a translational point of view.