Head and neck cancers rank 6th in newly diagnosed cases and 7th in newly reported cancer deaths worldwide. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes the majority of these malignancies. Over the past two decades, a remarkable progression has been observed in the development of systematic therapy for HNSCC, encompassing anti-EGFR targeted therapies such as cetuximab and afatinib, immunotherapy agents like pembrolizumab and nivolumab, and combinations of immunotherapy with cetuximab.
Despite notable progress in HNSCC treatment, the development of biomarkers to guide therapy remains significantly lagging. Currently, the only marker approved for clinical use is PD-L1. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that clinical and pathological features may correlate with therapeutic outcomes, highlighting the need for further research into predictive biomarkers to tailor treatment strategies and improve patient prognosis. For instance, patients who exhibit enhanced efficacy from anti-EGFR therapies tend to be younger, have primary tumors in the oral cavity, and test negative for HPV/p16. Additionally, patients aged 75 years or older may experience diminished effectiveness following immunotherapy compared to their younger counterparts.
Historically, clinical trials have often lacked the statistical power to detect subgroup therapeutic effects or identify markers. Fortunately, advancements in research methodologies, such as meta-analyses and the analysis of clinical and genetic databases, are providing new insights into subgroup therapeutic effects. Further exploration into the pathogenesis and molecular characteristics is crucial for identifying and validating clinically significant biomarkers. This research topic not only focuses on improving the prediction of treatment outcomes but also on facilitating the development and optimization of multimodal treatment strategies, ultimately guiding clinical practice. Specifically, research including, but not limited to the following sub-topics is highly welcome.
• Identify clinical and pathological features that may serve as predictive markers for therapeutic response
• Deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis, molecular characteristics, and genetics to differentiate between therapeutic responders and non-responders
• Develop and refine multimodal treatment strategies to enhance efficacy and minimize side effects
• Advance personalized medicine by considering the patient's genetic, phenotypic, and environmental attributes, and devise tailored treatment plans that yield optimal therapeutic outcomes
• Implement molecular targets in clinical practice for HNSCC management
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.
Head and neck cancers rank 6th in newly diagnosed cases and 7th in newly reported cancer deaths worldwide. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes the majority of these malignancies. Over the past two decades, a remarkable progression has been observed in the development of systematic therapy for HNSCC, encompassing anti-EGFR targeted therapies such as cetuximab and afatinib, immunotherapy agents like pembrolizumab and nivolumab, and combinations of immunotherapy with cetuximab.
Despite notable progress in HNSCC treatment, the development of biomarkers to guide therapy remains significantly lagging. Currently, the only marker approved for clinical use is PD-L1. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that clinical and pathological features may correlate with therapeutic outcomes, highlighting the need for further research into predictive biomarkers to tailor treatment strategies and improve patient prognosis. For instance, patients who exhibit enhanced efficacy from anti-EGFR therapies tend to be younger, have primary tumors in the oral cavity, and test negative for HPV/p16. Additionally, patients aged 75 years or older may experience diminished effectiveness following immunotherapy compared to their younger counterparts.
Historically, clinical trials have often lacked the statistical power to detect subgroup therapeutic effects or identify markers. Fortunately, advancements in research methodologies, such as meta-analyses and the analysis of clinical and genetic databases, are providing new insights into subgroup therapeutic effects. Further exploration into the pathogenesis and molecular characteristics is crucial for identifying and validating clinically significant biomarkers. This research topic not only focuses on improving the prediction of treatment outcomes but also on facilitating the development and optimization of multimodal treatment strategies, ultimately guiding clinical practice. Specifically, research including, but not limited to the following sub-topics is highly welcome.
• Identify clinical and pathological features that may serve as predictive markers for therapeutic response
• Deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis, molecular characteristics, and genetics to differentiate between therapeutic responders and non-responders
• Develop and refine multimodal treatment strategies to enhance efficacy and minimize side effects
• Advance personalized medicine by considering the patient's genetic, phenotypic, and environmental attributes, and devise tailored treatment plans that yield optimal therapeutic outcomes
• Implement molecular targets in clinical practice for HNSCC management
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.