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Silva JPN, Pinto B, Monteiro L, Silva PMA, Bousbaa H. Combination Therapy as a Promising Way to Fight Oral Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1653. [PMID: 37376101 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer is a highly aggressive tumor with invasive properties that can lead to metastasis and high mortality rates. Conventional treatment strategies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, alone or in combination, are associated with significant side effects. Currently, combination therapy has become the standard practice for the treatment of locally advanced oral cancer, emerging as an effective approach in improving outcomes. In this review, we present an in-depth analysis of the current advancements in combination therapies for oral cancer. The review explores the current therapeutic options and highlights the limitations of monotherapy approaches. It then focuses on combinatorial approaches that target microtubules, as well as various signaling pathway components implicated in oral cancer progression, namely, DNA repair players, the epidermal growth factor receptor, cyclin-dependent kinases, epigenetic readers, and immune checkpoint proteins. The review discusses the rationale behind combining different agents and examines the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of these combinations, emphasizing their ability to enhance treatment response and overcome drug resistance. Challenges and limitations associated with combination therapy are discussed, including potential toxicity and the need for personalized treatment approaches. A future perspective is also provided to highlight the existing challenges and possible resolutions toward the clinical translation of current oral cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P N Silva
- UNIPRO-Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Pinto
- UNIPRO-Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Luís Monteiro
- UNIPRO-Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Patrícia M A Silva
- UNIPRO-Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- TOXRUN-Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Hassan Bousbaa
- UNIPRO-Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
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Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy for Recurrent/Unresectable/Metastatic Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Center Study in China. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/7283946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background. Although pembrolizumab is recommended as a first-line treatment for advanced recurrent/unresectable/metastatic (R/U/M) head and neck squamous carcinoma, the differences in its efficacy among different populations need to be investigated. Methods. We reviewed 15 consecutive patients with R/U/M oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between February 2021 and May 2022. All the 15 patients had known programmed death-ligand 1 expression and received multiple cycles of pembrolizumab monotherapy as first-line treatment. We evaluated and analyzed patients’ basic characteristics, time to first remission, the clinical efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy, and treatment-related adverse reactions. Results. The objective response rate of the 15 patients was 60%. Six patients (40.0%) achieved partial response, while three patients (20.0%) achieved complete response. In our study, the objective response status of the patients was observed in two to five cycles (mean, 3.6 cycles). For patients who responded well to immunotherapy, the mean Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (
). The progression-free survival rates were 66.9% and 50.1% at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Eight adverse events were observed, comprising four cases of rash and one case each of hypothyroidism, interstitial pneumonia, cheilitis, and cerebral thrombosis. Conclusion. Our study suggests that pembrolizumab is beneficial to the most responsive patients with R/U/M OSCC in our single-center study and may shed light on the management of OSCC.
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Madera M, Tirado Amador L, Leal Acosta C. Therapeutic Options in Unresectable Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:6705-6719. [PMID: 34471384 PMCID: PMC8403568 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s283204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This review describes the current scientific evidence of therapeutic options in unresectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We searched MEDLINE (Via PubMed) to identify studies assessing treatments for unresectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. The methodological quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist tool. The evidence was organized and presented using tables and narrative synthesis. Results Thirty-three studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies had an observational design. The sample size varied from 16 to 916 participants. The methodology quality of the included studies ranged from 2.5 to 10 using the JBI tool. Overall, the optimal treatment of patients with unresectable oral cancer is challenging, so there is a sprinkling of studies assessing a variety of therapeutic options, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy plus chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and gene therapy plus chemotherapy. Conclusion There is lacking evidence about the benefits of some therapeutic options for unresectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. Overall, these patients can be treated using a multimodal approach such as concurrent chemoradiotherapy or induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy, which have shown good clinical outcomes. However, other options could be considered depending on the assessment of risk/benefits, tumor extension, and patient values and preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisser Madera
- Department of Research, Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Lesbia Tirado Amador
- Department of Research, Faculty of Dentistry at the Universidad del Sinú, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Carlos Leal Acosta
- Department of Research, Faculty of Dentistry at the Corporación Universitaria Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena, Colombia
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Lee TL, Wei PY, Yang MH, Chang PMH, Wang LW, Tai SK. Tongue conservation treatment for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma with induction chemotherapy, surgery, and risk-adapted adjuvant therapy: A phase II trial. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2021; 5:e1456. [PMID: 34051137 PMCID: PMC8842695 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the feasibility of tongue conservation treatment with induction chemotherapy (ICT), tongue conservation surgery, and risk-adapted postoperative adjuvant therapy in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). METHODS Patients with newly diagnosed OTSCC cT2-4 N0-2 M0 were recruited. The ICT with a regimen of docetaxel, cisplatin, and oral tegafur/uracil (DCU) was administrated every 21 days. After the first cycle of ICT (DCU1), patients with a more than 30% decrease in the longest diameter of primary tumor underwent a second cycle of ICT (DCU2). Tongue conservation surgery was performed after ICT, and risk-adapted adjuvant therapy was organized based on pathological features. RESULTS From July 2011 to December 2015, a total of 23 patients were enrolled, 87% of whom were classified as stage III-IV. Clinical responders to DCU1 and DCU2 were determined in 90.5% (19/21) and 88.2% (15/17) of patients. Tongue conservation surgery was performed in 16 responders to ICT. Only one patient had a positive margin (6.3%), and a complete pathologic response was achieved in eight patients (50%). Only one patient developed local recurrence after a median follow-up of 58.6 months (range, 7.9-105.2). The 5-year overall survival (0% vs. 87.5%, P = 0.001) and disease-specific survival (0% vs. 93.3%, P = 0.000) were significantly different between the DCU1 nonresponders and responders. CONCLUSION Tongue conservation treatment with ICT, followed by conservation surgery and risk-adapted adjuvant therapy, is feasible for patients with OTSCC who are good responders to ICT. However, the outcomes of nonresponders are dismal. Further study in a larger patient population is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Lun Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yin Wei
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Otolaryngology, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Muh-Hwa Yang
- Infection and Immunity Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Peter Mu-Hsin Chang
- Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Wei Wang
- Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shyh-Kuan Tai
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Infection and Immunity Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Wang HC, Liu PL, Lo PC, Chang YT, Chan LP, Yeh TJ, Hsiao HH, Cho SF. Consistent administration of cetuximab is associated with favorable outcomes in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in an endemic carcinogen exposure area: a retrospective observational study. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9862. [PMID: 32974098 PMCID: PMC7487150 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes associated with patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM HNSCC) who received cetuximab-based chemotherapy in a real-world clinical setting. METHODS Clinical data were extracted from RM HNSCC patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazards model were used for survival analyses. RESULTS Of 106 RM HNSCC patients (mean age = 55.1 years), 38.7% exhibited recurrent disease and 61.3% had metastatic disease. The majority of patients showed a habit of addictive substance use, including alcohol (67.0%), betel nuts (71.7%), or tobacco (74.5%). The primary tumor sites included the oral cavity (64.1%), hypopharynx (19.8%), and oropharynx (16.0%). The median number of cetuximab cycles for the 106 patients was 11 (2-24). The disease control rate (DCR) was 48.1%, and the overall response rate (ORR) was 28.3%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5.0 and 9.23 months, respectively. Patients treated with more than 11 cycles of cetuximab exhibited a longer median PFS and median OS than did patients treated with less than 11 cycles (median PFS: 7.0 vs. 3.0 months, p < 0.001; OS: 12.43 vs. 4.46 months, p = 0.001). Patients without previous concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) had a better median PFS than did those with previous CRT (6.0 vs. 4.0 months, p = 0.046). Multivariable analysis revealed that perineural invasion and fewer cycles of cetuximab (<11 cycles) were independent risk factors associated with disease progression. In addition, the reduction in treatment cycles of cetuximab and advanced lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors predicting poorer overall survival. CONCLUSION Our study provides important real-world data regarding cetuximab-containing treatment in RM HNSCC. Consistent administration of cetuximab could be associated with more favorable outcomes in RM HNSCC in endemic carcinogen exposure areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ching Wang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lin Liu
- Faculty of Internal Medicine, Specialist Nursing office, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chuan Lo
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Tzu Chang
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Leong-Perng Chan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Jang Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hua Hsiao
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Feng Cho
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Prabhash K, Goel A, Singla A. Authors' reply to Kuriakose et al., Mallick et al., and Chaukar et al. CANCER RESEARCH, STATISTICS, AND TREATMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/crst.crst_99_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Induction chemotherapy in head and neck cancers: Results and controversies. Oral Oncol 2019; 95:164-169. [DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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