Interleukin-1 alpha increases anti-tumor efficacy of cetuximab in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the high prevalence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), incorporation of the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab into the clinical management of HNSCC has not led to significant changes in long-term survival outcomes. Therefore, the identification of novel therapeutic approaches to enhance the clinical efficacy of cetuximab could lead to improved long-term survival for HNSCC patients. Our previous work suggests that EGFR inhibition activates the interleukin-1 (IL-1) pathway via tumor release of IL-1 alpha (IL-1α), although the clinical implications of activating this pathway are unclear in the context of cetuximab therapy. Given the role of IL-1 signaling in anti-tumor immune response, we hypothesized

SUBMITTER: Espinosa-Cotton M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6425573 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature