Head and Neck Cancer
Many
of the scientist are underway to learn
more about new types of drugs that may help treat head and neck cancer.
Immunotherapy: An active area
of immunotherapy research is absorbed on drugs that block a protein called
PD-1. PD-1 is found on the surface of T cells, which are a type of white blood
cell that directly helps the body’s immune system combat disease. Because PD-1
keeps the immune system from destroying cancer cells, stopping PD-1 from
working allows the immune system to better eliminate the disease. There are 2
immunotherapy drugs approved for the treatment of metastatic or repeated head
and neck cancers). Researchers are studying PD-1 immunotherapy for people with
recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer in clinical trials.
Radiofrequency
thermal ablation (RFA): RFA
is a minimally invasive treatment option that applies heat to the tumor to terminate
cancer cells. It is usually used to treat a localized tumor that cannot be
removed by surgery.
Gene
therapy:
Gene therapy is a targeted form of treatment that uses biologic gene influence
to change bits of genetic code in a person’s cells. Although gene therapy is moderately
new, it appears to show promise in treating head and neck cancer.
Photodynamic
therapy:
In photodynamic therapy, a light-sensitive sensible is slot in into the lump
that stays longer in cancer cells than in healthy cells. A laser is then engaged
at the tumor to destroy the cancer cells. The long-term effects of photodynamic
treatment are still being studied.
Proton
therapy:
Proton therapy can be more to a treatment plan to reduce the damage done to
healthy tissue. This radiation therapy technique may help defend important erections
in the head, such as the brainstem and the optic nerves that run to the eyes,
when used to treat nasopharyngeal cancer, chordoma, or chondrosarcoma. A
chordoma is a rare tumor that regularly occurs in the spine or the base of the
skull. Chondrosarcoma is a tumor that grows in cartilage.
HPV: Researchers
continue to explore the link between HPV and head and neck cancers. These
studies are evaluating why HPV raises the hazard of the disease and how the
virus may affect the outcome of some treatments. They are also looking at whether the HPV vaccine
that is currently used to prevent cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancer is
effective at preventing some head and neck cancers as well.
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