Targeted therapy in head and neck cancer

Abstract

The desire to target therapies to specific cancers while leaving the host unharmed remains an ongoing quest for scientists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. In recent years, great scientific progress has been made in targeted therapies. Although many modalities remain in preclinical validation, some advances affect patient care today. This article summarizes the concepts of targeting and explores current examples of successful targeting and emerging targeting technologies in head and neck oncology.