Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignancy with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Beginning with cetuximab, investigators continue to optimize antibody technology to target cell-surface receptors that promote HNSCC growth. Small molecules and oligonucleotides have also emerged as therapeutic inhibitors of key receptor-mediated signaling pathways. Although many such therapies have been disappointing in clinical trials as single agents, they continue to be studied in combination with standard therapies. Approvals of pembrolizumab and nivolumab opened a new era of immunotherapy that aims to stimulate antitumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment. Immunotherapies are being intensively investigated in new HNSCC clinical trials, with the goal of optimizing the therapeutic potential of this new class of anticancer agent.

头颈部鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）是常见的恶性肿瘤，死亡率和发病率很高。从西妥昔单抗开始，研究人员继续优化抗体技术，以靶向促进HNSCC生长的细胞表面受体。小分子和寡核苷酸也已作为关键受体介导的信号通路的治疗抑制剂而出现。尽管许多此类疗法作为单一药物在临床试验中令人失望，但仍继续与标准疗法结合进行研究。pembrolizumab和nivolumab的批准开启了免疫疗法的新时代，该疗法旨在在肿瘤微环境中刺激抗肿瘤免疫力。在新的HNSCC临床试验中，正在对免疫疗法进行深入研究，目的是优化这种新型抗癌药的治疗潜力。