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Volume 47
Issue 8
10.3390/cimb47080609
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Review

Molecular Targets for Pharmacotherapy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

by
Robert Sarna
1,
Robert Kubina
1,2,
Marlena Paździor-Heiske
1,
Adrianna Halama
1,
Patryk Chudy
1,
Paulina Wala
1,
Kamil Krzykawski
1,3 and
Ilona Nowak
1,4,*
1
Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
2
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
3
Department of Immunology and Serology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
4
Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080609 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 June 2025 / Revised: 26 July 2025 / Accepted: 29 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Challenges of Targeted Therapy of Cancers: 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with a complex molecular profile. Despite therapeutic advances, patient prognosis remains poor, emphasizing the need for more effective treatment strategies. Traditional chemotherapy, with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), remains the gold standard but is limited by toxicity and tumor resistance. Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), has improved overall survival, especially in patients with high PD-L1 expression. In parallel, targeted therapies such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitors—which impair DNA repair and increase replication stress—have shown promising activity in HNSCC. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors are also under investigation due to their potential to correct dysregulated cell cycle control, a hallmark of HNSCC. This review aims to summarize current and emerging pharmacotherapies for HNSCC, focusing on chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and PARP and CDK inhibitors. It also discusses the evolving role of targeted therapies in improving clinical outcomes. Future research directions include combination therapies, nanotechnology-based delivery systems to enhance treatment specificity, and the development of diagnostic tools such as PARP1-targeted imaging to better guide personalized treatment approaches.
Keywords: HNSCC; PD-1; PD-L2; chemotherapy; CDK; PARP; targeted therapies HNSCC; PD-1; PD-L2; chemotherapy; CDK; PARP; targeted therapies

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sarna, R.; Kubina, R.; Paździor-Heiske, M.; Halama, A.; Chudy, P.; Wala, P.; Krzykawski, K.; Nowak, I. Molecular Targets for Pharmacotherapy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47, 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080609

AMA Style

Sarna R, Kubina R, Paździor-Heiske M, Halama A, Chudy P, Wala P, Krzykawski K, Nowak I. Molecular Targets for Pharmacotherapy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2025; 47(8):609. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080609

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sarna, Robert, Robert Kubina, Marlena Paździor-Heiske, Adrianna Halama, Patryk Chudy, Paulina Wala, Kamil Krzykawski, and Ilona Nowak. 2025. "Molecular Targets for Pharmacotherapy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas" Current Issues in Molecular Biology 47, no. 8: 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080609

APA Style

Sarna, R., Kubina, R., Paździor-Heiske, M., Halama, A., Chudy, P., Wala, P., Krzykawski, K., & Nowak, I. (2025). Molecular Targets for Pharmacotherapy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 47(8), 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080609

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