Chemotherapy and targeted therapy in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: A review

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon tumor usually arising in the head and neck region, mainly in the salivary glands. It demonstrates an indolent prolonged course and is characterized by perineural invasion. Primary treatment of local and locoregional disease consists mainly of surgery and/or irradiation. During follow-up these patients frequently develop local recurrences and distant metastases, especially in the lung, although long-term survival is possible. The role of chemotherapy in ACC is limited, and studies with only a limited number of patients are performed. In this article we review the literature on chemotherapy regimens, including monotherapy and combination chemotherapy schedules, as well as the new targeted therapies.

High Expression of H3K9me3 Is a Strong Predictor of Poor Survival in Patients With Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

“…However, the role of chemotherapy in ACC is controversial and no definitive protocols have become universally accepted. 3 In the current study, our analysis did not show significant relationship between radiation/chemotherapy and OS and DFS, which could be for 2 reasons. First, for radiation therapy, in other research studies, 35,36 which showed that radiation therapy had a positive effect on patients' survival, almost every patient received postoperative radiation therapy, but in our cohort, only 77.3% (51 of 66) received postoperative radiation therapy.…”

“…2, 3 The precise evaluation of the prognosis of patients with ACC might help to determine the most appropriate treatment strategies, thereby improving their survival and quality of life. Therefore, the discovery of accurate prognostic biomarkers is an important area of ACC research.…”

Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A review of recent advances, molecular targets, and clinical trials

“…As an uncommon tumor type, ACC accounts for only 1% of all malignant tumors of the head and neck region and 10% of all salivary gland neoplasms 1, 2, 3. In the latter case, ACC occurs more frequently in minor as compared with major salivary glands.…”

Proton therapy for head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma: Initial clinical outcomes

“…4 Surgical resection and postoperative radiotherapy are the standard of care, while systemic therapy has been of little utility. 5 Patients with advanced tumor stage disease 6,7,8 and involvement of the skull base have poor outcomes, 9,10 as disease cannot usually be surgically extirpated and the lower radiation tolerance of closely adjacent critical normal structures such as the optic apparatus, brainstem, and temporal lobes can preclude delivery of radical doses of radiotherapy. In these patients, local disease control is of special importance, given the profound sequelae of disease progression at the skull base.…”