Advances of Targeted Therapies in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck

The treatment of advanced oral and maxillofacial-head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(SCCHN) is still a challenge in the section of oncology in oral and maxillofacial surgery.Although the traditional treatments like radical surgical operation combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy has progressed a lot recently,the prognosis of the advanced SCCHN is still poor.However,the progress of target drugs brings hope for it.Two primary strategies have emerged that account for most of the success of current targeted therapies: one is epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),and the other is vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) receptor.The typical drugs to block EGFR are cetuximab and nimotuzumab,both of them have demonstrated survival benefits across whatever monotherapy,or multitherapy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.The typical drug to block VEGF is bevacizumab,which is now proceeding through Phase III clinical trial.The targeted therapy is a new choice for the advanced SCCHN.