Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance is a huge barrier for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and therefore requires close attention to understand its underlay mechanisms for effective strategies. In this review, we first summarize the molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance that occur during the treatment with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and docetaxel/paclitaxel, including DNA/RNA damage repair, drug efflux, apoptosis inhibition, and epidermal growth factor receptor/focal adhesion kinase/nuclear factor-κB activation. Next, we describe the potential approaches to combining conventional therapies with previous cancer treatments such as immunotherapy, which may improve the treatment outcomes and prolong the survival of HNC patients. Overall, by parsing the reported molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance within HNC patient’s tumors, we can improve the prediction of chemotherapeutic responsiveness, and reveal new therapeutic targets for the future.
Highlights
The global incidence of head and neck cancers (HNCs) continued to rise from 6.55 to 10.91% in the 10 years from 2008 to 2018
We summarize the molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance after chemotherapies, such as cisplatin, 5-FU, and docetaxel/paclitaxel
We describe up-to-date clinical trials, such as combination therapy and chemo-immunotherapy
Summary
The global incidence of head and neck cancers (HNCs) continued to rise from 6.55 to 10.91% in the 10 years from 2008 to 2018. There are four main mechanisms that HNC cells acquire to avoid cell death following cisplatin [14, 16, 31, 32], 5-FU [33, 34], and paclitaxel/docetaxel treatments [35,36,37], including DNA/RNA damage repair, drug efflux, apoptosis inhibition, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/ nuclear factor (NF)-kB activation. We summarize these resistance mechanisms of chemotherapy regimens that occur in HNC cells and describe the most current reports available. Long Li et al investigated the effect of b-catenin on cisplatin resistance by TABLE 1 | Markers of chemotherapy resistance in head and neck cancers (HNCs)
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