Immunological treatment options for locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Int Rev Immunol. 2012 Feb;31(1):22-42. doi: 10.3109/08830185.2011.637253.

Abstract

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) are usually treated by a multimodal approach with surgery and/or radiochemotherapy as the mainstay of local-regional treatment in cases with advanced disease. Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy have the disadvantage of causing severe side effects, while the clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with HNSCC has remained essentially unchanged over the last decade. The potential of immunotherapy is still largely unexplored. Here the authors review the current status of the art and discuss the future challenges in HNSCC treatment and prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / immunology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Immunotherapy / trends
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control