Harrington K J, Kazi R, Bhide S A, Newbold K, Nutting C M
Head and Neck Unit, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London and Surrey, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London, United Kingdom.
Indian J Cancer. 2010 Jul-Sep;47(3):248-59. doi: 10.4103/0019-509X.64711.
Despite significant improvements in the treatment and outcomes of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) that have resulted from technological advances in radiation delivery and the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy, there is still a pressing need for novel therapies. In the last two decades, our understanding of the molecular biological basis of cancer has provided us with a new framework for developing specific targeted therapies. It is likely that the next wave of developments will include active small molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (and other members of the c-erbB family of receptors), antiangiogenic agents, and drugs that can increase proapoptotic signaling in cancer cells. As with cetuximab, it is most likely that these new agents will first find a niche in the context of combination regimens with standard anticancer therapeutics.
尽管放射治疗技术的进步以及细胞毒性化疗的应用使头颈部鳞状细胞癌（SCCHN）患者的治疗和预后有了显著改善，但对新型疗法仍有迫切需求。在过去二十年中，我们对癌症分子生物学基础的理解为开发特定的靶向疗法提供了新框架。下一波发展可能包括表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）（以及c-erbB受体家族的其他成员）的活性小分子抑制剂、抗血管生成药物，以及能够增加癌细胞促凋亡信号的药物。与西妥昔单抗一样，这些新药物很可能首先会在与标准抗癌疗法联合使用的方案中找到用武之地。
