Title:Novel Agents Targeting Crucial Signalling Pathways in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, HNSCC - Preclinical Development and Data from Clinical Trials
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Eva-Maria Schottdorf
Affiliation:Freelance Emergency Physician & Radition Oncologist, Germany.
Keywords:Cancer stem cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, HNSCC, proteomics, targeted therapy.
Abstract:A plenitude of reasons, including tumour heterogeneity, mechanisms of resistance to therapy, a complex pathogenesis,
in which cancer stem cells are involved, contribute to the poor outcome of HNSCC patients after therapy. The
roles of vital signalling proteins are constantly unravelled, and different types of inhibitors are examined yielding novel
potential targeting strategies. However, there will be a long way to go, before drugs targeting these molecules will be
available in routine clinical practice. In this review the focus will be on these novel targets, as well as inhibiting agents,
which nowadays are combined to an increasing degree. Additionally, the role proteomics plays in modern drug research
will be highlighted.
