TOGETHER WE CAN DEFEAT CANCER

TARGETED TREATMENT FOR ORAL CANCER

Targeted therapies are drugs that act by blocking specific molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer. More details
Recent advancements in scientific research has identified EGFR(Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) as a potential target to treat oral cancer.
This molecule is increasingly expressed in patient's with oral cancer than normal individuals. Therefore, EGFR targeting could be critical in treating patients with mouth cancer.

Recently, Cetuximab, a new medicine called targeted therapy has been introduced as an alternative to routine chemotherapy.

Cetuximab(Brand name Erbitux) is an EGFR inhibitor that has been approved by the FDA for use in cancer involving head and neck.

As per NICE guidelines it is used along with radiation therapy or chemotherapy and in cases non-responsive to routine treatment.

This causes less side-effects.

Cetuximab is also being used in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Info about clinical trials of cetuximab can be accessed here.

Also, the drug erlotinib (Tarceva) has shown promising results in early studies. Drugs that block the growth of blood vessels which the cancer  needs to grow such as bevacizumab (Avastin) are also being studied for use in mouth cancers as well.