A radiobiological perspective on radioresistance or/and radiosensitivity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Chen-Xi Li; Xiao-Rong Tan; Wei Wei; Mu-Qiu Li; Wei-Na Zhang; Zhong-Cheng Gong; Yang Zhang; Hua-Rong Zhao

doi:10.5603/rpor.99355

A radiobiological perspective on radioresistance or/and radiosensitivity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2024 Feb 16;28(6):809-822. doi: 10.5603/rpor.99355. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Chen-Xi Li^{1

2

3}, Xiao-Rong Tan^{1

2}, Wei Wei^{1

2}, Mu-Qiu Li^{1

2}, Wei-Na Zhang⁴, Zhong-Cheng Gong^{1

2}, Yang Zhang⁵, Hua-Rong Zhao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology & Surgery, School/Hospital of Stomatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
² Stomatological Research Institute of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China.
³ Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁴ Ear, Nose & Throat Department, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
⁵ The First Ward of Oncological Department, Cancer Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.

Abstract

Background: This article aimed to compile and summarize clinically relevant literature in radiation therapy, and to discuss the potential in radioresistant and radiosensitive head and neck cancer.

Study design: Narrative review.

Materials and methods: Google Scholar, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were retrieved using combined key words such as "radiotherapy" and "head and neck cancer". Search strings additionally queried were "radioresistant", "radiosensitive", "head and neck region", "squamous cell carcinoma", in combination with Boolean Operators 'AND' and 'OR'. Subsequently, the resulting publications were included for review of the full text.

Results: Radiotherapeutic response currently in clinical observation referred to HNSCC scoping were selected into this review. The compiled mechanisms were then detailed concerning on the clinical significance, biological characteristics, and molecular function.

Conclusions: Brachytherapy or/and external-beam radiotherapy are crucial for treating HNSCC, especially the early stage patients, but in patients with locally advanced tumors, their outcome with radiation therapy is poor due to obvious radioresistance. The curative effects mainly depend on the response of radiation therapy, so an updated review is needed to optimize further applications in HNSCC radiotherapy.

Keywords: head and neck; radiation therapy; radioresistance; radiosensitivity; squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Review