[Anti-angiogenesis - a therapy concept in the treatment of head and neck carcinomas? A review]

Abstract

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive malignancy that is now the sixth most common neoplasm in the world. Despite numerous advances in treatment, the long-term survival has remained the same for the last 25 years. Angiogenesis has been shown to be important for HNSCC tumour growth and metastasis. Therefore, inhibitors of angiogenesis are a new class of anti-neoplastic substances that might be a powerful complement to conventional therapy in HNSCC.

Material and methods: The role of angiogenesis in HNSCC as well as preclinical and clinical trials concerning inhibitors of tumor-angiogenesis are discussed here.

Results: Many of the investigated angiogenesis inhibitors demonstrated anti-tumor effects in preclinical and clinical trials. In a few cases, partial remission was observed.

Conclusions: Anti-angiogenic therapy will undoubtly have the potential to change standard tumor therapies. Some anti-angiogenic substances appear to be promising candidates for a clinical use in the therapy of HNSCC.