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Review
. 2016 May;4(9):173.
doi: 10.21037/atm.2016.03.34.

The emerging role of immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): anti-tumor immunity and clinical applications

Panagiota Economopoulou  1 , Christos Perisanidis  1 , Evaggelos I Giotakis  1 , Amanda Psyrri  1
Affiliations
Review

The emerging role of immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): anti-tumor immunity and clinical applications

Panagiota Economopoulou et al. Ann Transl Med. 2016 May.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) carries a poor prognosis, with low survival rates for advanced stage tumors and minimal improvement in survival trends through the past decades. It is becoming increasingly clear that HNSCC oncogenesis and evolution is characterized by profound immune defects, as cancer cells evade immunosurveillance due to accumulation of genetic mutations and tumor heterogeneity. Improved understanding of the role of the immune system in cancer has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets, which are being investigated for their potential to provide durable responses. In this review, we will summarize the role of the immune system in HNSCC, the rationale behind immunotherapy strategies and their clinical applications.

Keywords: Checkpoint inhibitors; head and neck cancer; immune system; immunotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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