TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting the PI3K Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
AU - Isaacsson Velho, Pedro H enrique
AU - Castro, Gilberto
AU - Chung, Christine H.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease arising from the mucosal epithelia in the head and neck region. The most common risk factors are tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection, particularly in the oropharynx. The HPV-positive HNSCC is biologically and clinically distinct from the HPV-negative HNSCC; however, deregulations within the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are frequent in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC as it is the most frequently altered oncogenic pathway with a gain-of-function in HNSCC. This article reviews the basic biology and clinical data from the trials involving anticancer agents targeting the PI3K pathway in HNSCC. It also discusses the difficulties of translating the preclinical data to tangible clinical efficacy of these agents in patients with HNSCC even when there is significant preclinical data suggesting the PI3K pathway is a promising therapeutic target in HNSCC. We conclude that additional studies to determine appropriate patient selection for the activation of PI3K pathway and to develop targeted agents either as a monotherapy or combination therapy with favorable toxicity profiles are required before a broader clinical application.
AB - Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease arising from the mucosal epithelia in the head and neck region. The most common risk factors are tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection, particularly in the oropharynx. The HPV-positive HNSCC is biologically and clinically distinct from the HPV-negative HNSCC; however, deregulations within the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are frequent in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC as it is the most frequently altered oncogenic pathway with a gain-of-function in HNSCC. This article reviews the basic biology and clinical data from the trials involving anticancer agents targeting the PI3K pathway in HNSCC. It also discusses the difficulties of translating the preclinical data to tangible clinical efficacy of these agents in patients with HNSCC even when there is significant preclinical data suggesting the PI3K pathway is a promising therapeutic target in HNSCC. We conclude that additional studies to determine appropriate patient selection for the activation of PI3K pathway and to develop targeted agents either as a monotherapy or combination therapy with favorable toxicity profiles are required before a broader clinical application.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85003052214&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85003052214&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.14694/EdBook_AM.2015.35.123
DO - 10.14694/EdBook_AM.2015.35.123
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25993150
AN - SCOPUS:85003052214
SN - 1548-8756
SP - 123
EP - 128
JO - American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book / ASCO. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Meeting
JF - American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book / ASCO. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Meeting
ER -