Abstract
Metronomic therapy is characterized by drug administration in a low-dose, repeated, and regular manner without prolonged drug-free interval. The two main anticancer mechanisms of metronomic therapy are antiangiogenesis and immunomodulation, which have been demonstrated in several delicate in vitro and in vivo experiments. In contrast to the traditional maximum tolerated dose (MTD) dosing of chemotherapy, metronomic therapy possesses comparative efficacy but greatlydecreases the incidence and severity of treatment side-effects. Clinical trials of metronomic anticancer treatment have revealed promising results in a variety cancer types and specific patient populations such as the elderly and pediatric malignancies. Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is an important health issue in many areas around the world. Long-term survival is about 50% in locally advanced disease despite having high-intensity treatment combined surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. In this article, we review and summarize the essence of metronomic therapy and focus on its applications in OCSCC treatment.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
We found two main clinical settings for the use of metronomic therapy in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC); one was adjuvant/maintenance therapy after curative intent surgery or chemoradiotherapy, and the other was a palliative therapy in recurrent/metastatic status
The results revealed that patients treated with metronomic UFUR had a significant reduction in the detectable viable CEP cells, which might implicate an antiangiogenesis mechanism behind the survival benefits
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, comprises heterogenous groups of tumors arising from the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx [1]. The majority of OCSCC patients present with a locally advanced disease, and the main therapeutic strategy is tumor wide excision plus radical neck dissection, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy [12,13]. This high-intensity treatment program results in significant acute or chronic adverse events [14]. We briefly review the mechanism of action and clinical development of metronomic therapies in OCSCC
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