Synthetic lethality: towards the targeted strategies of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2021.03.019

Abstract

Abstract: Synthetic lethality occurs between two genes when loss of function of either gene is viable but loss of function of both genes simultaneously specifically induces cell death. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a malignant tumor characterized by high-frequency mutations of tumor suppressor genes, and synthetic lethality has the potential to provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HNSCC which lacks of targeted drugs. With the development of RNA interfering and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology, synthetic lethal screening tends to be more accurate and efficient to explore therapeutic approach including screening novel anti-tumor targets at the whole genome region, refining combination drug therapy and reversing tumor immune escape. Considering genetic context significantly influences synthetic lethality, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model performs as an ideal preclinical model for screening and verifying synthetic lethality, because it can fully reflect tumor heterogeneity and genetic background of patients.

Key words: Synthetic lethality, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Tumor suppressor gene, Targeted therapy

CLC Number:

R739.8

CHEN Lan, ZHANG Zhi-yuan, SUN Shu-yang. Synthetic lethality: towards the targeted strategies of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2021, 19(3): 278-283.

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