T Cell-directed Immunotherapeutic Approaches for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology 2017;33(1):7-13.
Published online May 30, 2017.

Yoon Seok Choi

두경부편평세포암에서의 T세포 면역치료

최윤석

Abstract

Despite improved treatment outcomes of locally advanced disease over the last 2 decades, the survival of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains dismal. There is a clear need for development of novel therapeutic strategies for recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC. Recent advances in understanding tumor immunology have been directly and rapidly translated into clinical success of T cell-directed immunotherapeutic approach in the treatment of several types of solid cancers. Among them, impact of immune checkpoint inhibition using neutralizing antibodies is the most striking. A variety of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting T cells have been also studied in HNSCC, especially in recurrent and/or metastatic setting even with significant survival benefit. The present article reviews the basic concept of T cell-directed immunotherapy and the current status of such approaches in the treatment of HNSCC.

Key Words: T세포, head and neck cancer, T cell, immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor