Review of Current and Future Medical Treatments in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancer research · Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma · EGFR

Immunotherapy and antibody‑based treatments have transformed the management of recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet their efficacy in locoregional disease remains uncertain and is the subject of ongoing investigation.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex cancer requiring a multidisciplinary approach. For patients with locally or regionally advanced disease, surgery and/or radiation are the cornerstones of definitive treatment. Medical therapy plays an important adjunct role in this setting, typically consisting of a platinum‑based regimen given as induction, concurrent, or adjuvant treatment. While relapsed/metastatic HNSCC has historically been a difficult‑to‑treat disease with poor outcomes, options have considerably improved with the incorporation of biologics and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Clinical trials are ongoing to investigate novel approaches, including new and combination immunotherapies, targeted therapies, therapeutic vaccines, antibody‑drug conjugates, and cellular therapies. The results thus far have been mixed, highlighting the knowledge gaps that continue to challenge the medical oncologist treating HNSCC. Here, we present the most updated and broad review of the current treatment landscape in both locoregional and metastatic HNSCC and discuss the expansive future medical therapies under investigation.

An up‑to‑date synthesis of the therapeutic advances in HNSCC is essential for clinicians to tailor treatment plans, identify unmet needs, and prioritize enrollment in clinical trials, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Evidence level: Irányelv / elfogadott gyakorlat. Magas szintű klinikai elfogadottság.

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