Precision drugging of the MAPK pathway in head and neck cancer.

ABSTRACT: The mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is central for cell proliferation, differentiation, and senescence. In human, germline defects of the pathway contribute to developmental and congenital head and neck disorders. Nearly 1/5 of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) harbors MAPK pathway mutations, which are largely activating mutations. Yet, previous approaches targeting the MAPK pathway in HNSCC were futile. Most recent clinical evidences reveal remarkable, or even exceptional pharmacologic vulnerabilities of MAPK1-mutated, HRAS-mutated, KRAS-germline altered, as well as BRAF-mutated HNSCC patients with various targeted therapies, uncovering diverse opportunities for precision drugging this pathway at multiple "genetically condemned" nodes. Further, recent patient

SUBMITTER: Ngan HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8927572 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature