Targeted Radionuclide Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review

The review explores the potential of targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which makes up over 90% of head and neck cancers. Current treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have significant toxicities and limited survival rates. TRT offers a more targeted approach by using ionizing radiation to selectively kill cancer cells, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life. The review identifies molecular targets such as the EGFR family, HER2, and HER3 as promising for TRT. While some monoclonal antibodies are approved for HNSCC, radiolabeled antibodies for TRT are still under investigation. The review emphasizes the need for combination therapies to overcome monotherapy limitations and drug resistance, and highlights the importance of identifying predictive biomarkers and optimizing radiopharmaceuticals to improve treatment efficacy. Despite progress, extensive research is needed to integrate TRT into HNSCC treatment, focusing on developing radiopharmaceuticals tailored for this cancer type and leveraging theranostic approaches.