Fig. 3: Proposed precision treatment strategies for MAPK pathway-mutated head and neck cancer.
From: Precision drugging of the MAPK pathway in head and neck cancer
(1) FTIs, particularly tipifarnib, is currently under FDA fast track designation for HRAS-mutant HNSCC treatment; (2) HNSCC with KRAS germline variants are druggable with cetuximab addition; (3) MAPK1 mutations are targetable by EGFR inhibitors; (4) BRAF p.V600E-mutated ameloblastoma are exceptionally sensitive to and could be subject to BRAF monotherapy or BRAF/MEK combination therapy; (5) Treatment de-intensification or potentially “not-to-use” of ErbB3 inhibitors may need to be considered in MAPK-mutatedp-ErbB3 downregulated HNSCC. (6) CD8+ T cell infiltration in MAPK-mutant HNSCC may constitute better clinical outcome to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment.
