Anti-hypoxic Agents for Improving Head and Neck Cancer Therapy

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a devastating malignancy associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In recent years, the strategy of blocking tumor hypoxia agents has emerged as an essential alternative within the treatment of HNSCC. The current review focuses on approved anti-hypoxia agents. Our strategy search was based on identifying articles published in the PubMed database. The following keywords were used: head and neck cancer, hypoxia, hypoxia-activated prodrugs, anti-angiogenic therapy, and anti-hypoxic agents. Additional information was obtained from clinical trials and repositories within the Cancer Genome Atlas Program and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Three different classes of hypoxic compounds were observed according to the main targets and the pathways involved. We report on studies explicitly using anti-hypoxic compounds as a complementary therapy for HNSCC. The use of anti-hypoxic compounds is promising as a treatment for HNSCC. However, at this time, radiation therapy and surgery are still necessary.