Treatment options for advanced ameloblastoma in the era of precision medicine: A brief review

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 146; p. 106585
• Main Author: Oh, Kyu-Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Ameloblastoma; Immunotherapy; MAPK pathway; PD-L1; Targeted therapy; MAPK pathway; Ameloblastoma; PD-L1; Targeted therapy; Immunotherapy
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106585

•Most studies have focused on BRAF V600E as a therapeutic target in ameloblastoma.•Analysis of the FGFR2, KRAS, and NRAS genes may suggest expanded treatment options.•Confirmed PD-L1 expression in ameloblastoma warrants further relevant trials. Although complete excision is the standard of care for ameloblastoma, a subset of recurrent and/or metastasizing ameloblastomas are difficult to treat surgically. Over the past decade, several recurrent mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway genes have been identified in ameloblastoma, based on which the efficacy of targeted therapy has been investigated. However, most of the literature has focused on BRAF V600E mutations, the most common oncogenic mutations in ameloblastoma. Hence, this study aims to review the current knowledge of targetable genetic alterations in ameloblastoma from a broader perspective. In addition, the therapeutic potential of immunotherapy for ameloblastoma will be briefly discussed in the context of tumoral PD-L1 expression and the tumor immune microenvironment.