Treatment for laryngeal cancer
Targeted cancer drugs work by targeting the differences in cancer cells that help them to grow and survive.
Immunotherapy uses our to fight cancer. It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.
Some drugs work in more than one way. So, they are targeted as well as working with the immune system.
Whether you have targeted therapy or immunotherapy depends on:
the type of cancer you have
how far the cancer has grown (the stage)
what other treatments you can have
whether your cancer has changes (mutations) in certain proteins
These treatments can help some people with or laryngeal cancer and has come back after previous treatment. They may help to control the cancer for a time.
Read about the stages, types and grades of laryngeal cancer
Your doctor might test your cancer cells for particular proteins. This can help to show whether certain drug treatments might work for your cancer.
To test your cancer cells, your specialist needs a sample (biopsy) of your cancer. They might have tested your cancer cells when you were first diagnosed. Or they might be able to test some tissue from a biopsy or operation you have already had. In some cases, you might need to have another biopsy.
To help decide on treatment for your laryngeal cancer, your doctor may look for large amounts of a protein called PD-L1 (PD-L1 positive cancer).
Your doctor or specialist nurse will give you more information on your treatment and tests you might have before you start.
New cancer drugs are licensed for use in a particular way. For example, a drug might have a license to treat a particular stage or type of cancer.
Once a drug has a license, several independent organisations approve the new cancer drugs. Only then can doctors prescribe them on the NHS.
Read how drugs are licensed and approved in our access to treatment section
Cetuximab is a type of targeted cancer drug called a monoclonal antibody.
Monoclonal antibodies work by recognising and finding specific proteins on cancer cells. Different types of cancer have different proteins. The monoclonal antibody stops particular proteins from:
binding to cancer cells
blocking the proteins from triggering the cancer cells to divide and grow
Read more about monoclonal antibodies
You might have cetuximab with radiotherapy if you:
have locally advanced squamous cell laryngeal cancer
can't have platinum based chemotherapy (such as cisplatin or carboplatin)
Pembrolizumab is a type of immunotherapy. It stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.
Pembrolizumab targets and blocks a protein called PD-1 on the surface of certain immune cells. These immune cells are called T-cells. Blocking the protein triggers the T-cells to find and kill cancer cells.
You might have pembrolizumab if you:
have squamous cell laryngeal cancer
have a cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has not been treated. Or it has come back (recurrent) and you can’t have surgery
have a protein called PD-L1 on your cancer cells
You can have pembrolizumab for up to two years, but it might be stopped earlier if your cancer progresses. It is often given on its own. In certain situations, you might have it together with chemotherapy.
Nivolumab is a type of immunotherapy called a checkpoint inhibitor. They block proteins that stop the immune system from attacking the cancer cells. It helps to make your immune system find and kill cancer cells.
Find out more about checkpoint inhibitors
Nivolumab is available on the NHS in the UK. You can have nivolumab if you have:
squamous cell laryngeal cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body
had platinum based chemotherapy (such as cisplatin or carboplatin) and your cancer has started to grow within 6 months of having chemotherapy
In Scotland, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) says that you can have nivolumab if your cancer continues to grow while on or after having platinum based chemotherapy. You can have it for up to 2 years.
You have your treatment through a tube into your bloodstream.
A nurse puts a small tube into a vein in your hand or arm and connects the drip to it. Or you might have a central line. This is a long plastic tube that gives the drug into a large vein, either in your chest or through a vein in your arm. It stays in while you’re having treatment.
The side effects of targeted and immunotherapy cancer drugs are different depending on the drug you’re having. Not everyone gets all the side effects.
The side effects you have depend on:
which drug you have
whether you have it alone, with other drugs or with other treatments
the amount of drug you have (the dose)
your general health
A side effect may get better or worse during your course of treatment. Or more side effects may develop as the treatment goes on. For more information about the side effects of your treatment, go to the individual drug pages.
Researchers are looking at different types of targeted and immunotherapy drugs for laryngeal cancer. Some of these are used to treat other cancers and some are new.
They are looking at these drugs on their own or combined with other treatments.
Find clinical trials for laryngeal cancer
Treatment for laryngeal cancer can be difficult to cope with. Tell your doctor or nurse about any problems or side effects you have. Your nurse will give you numbers to call if you have any problems at home.
Last reviewed: 03 Sept 2024
Next review due: 03 Sept 2027
You might have surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of treatments to treat laryngeal cancer.
All cancer treatments have to be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we know that they work, they are better than the treatments already available and they are safe.
After treatment for laryngeal cancer, you have regular check ups. This is called follow up. This is to check on your recovery and to help you with any side effects of treatment.
Lots of advice and support are available to help you cope with living with laryngeal cancer.
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