Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42356567›Full record

ReviewPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Pharmacological Targeting of Angiogenesis in Head and Neck Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.

Diana Szekely, Antonia Armega-Anghelescu, Alina Cristina Barb, Dorin Novacescu, Catalin Dumitru, Alexia Manole, Radu Gheorghe Dan, Flavia Zara

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Diana SzekelyDoctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Antonia Armega-AnghelescuDepartment II of Microscopic Morphology, Discipline of Histology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Alina Cristina BarbDepartment II of Microscopic Morphology, Discipline of Histology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Dorin NovacescuDepartment II of Microscopic Morphology, Discipline of Histology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-2520-7636
Catalin DumitruDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Alexia ManoleFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania.ORCID 0009-0005-3410-3870
Radu Gheorghe DanDepartment of Surgery 1, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-6325-185X
Flavia ZaraDepartment II of Microscopic Morphology, Discipline of Histology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, E. Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-5755-179X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous malignancies worldwide, characterized by high rates of locoregional recurrence, metastatic dissemination, and therapeutic resistance. Angiogenesis plays a central role in tumor progression by supporting vascular remodeling, hypoxia adaptation, invasion, immune evasion, and metastatic spread. In HNSCC, angiogenic activation is regulated through complex interactions involving hypoxia-inducible factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, stromal remodeling, inflammatory pathways, and epigenetic mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment. Recent evidence has also highlighted the role of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs, and exosome-mediated communication in modulating angiogenic and immune-related signaling pathways. Although antiangiogenic therapies, including monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have demonstrated biological activity in HNSCC, their clinical efficacy remains limited by tumor heterogeneity, adaptive resistance mechanisms, toxicity, and the lack of validated predictive biomarkers. Several emerging therapeutic strategies are under preclinical or early clinical investigation in HNSCC, including miRNA-based approaches, nanoparticle-assisted delivery systems, vascular normalization concepts, and combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors; however, robust clinical evidence for most of these strategies remains limited, and their translation to routine practice requires further validation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms regulating angiogenesis in HNSCC and critically discusses current and emerging pharmacological strategies targeting these pathways. Particular emphasis is placed on VEGF/VEGFR signaling, the integration of miRNA and exosome biology, resistance mechanisms, and translational perspectives for biomarker-guided personalized therapy. The novelty of this review lies in the systematic integration of miRNA- and exosome-mediated angiogenic regulation, therapeutic resistance pathways, and precision medicine strategies into a unified pharmacological framework, addressing gaps not fully covered by prior reviews focused primarily on VEGF-targeted agents.

Indexed as

angiogenesishead and neck cancermolecular mechanismstargeted therapytumor microenvironmentVEGF

Identifiers

PMID42356567
PMCPMC13304504

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.