VEGFA and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Among the drugs used for HNSCC treatment, cetuximabhas emerged as the primary targeted therapy drug, which is particularly beneficial for patients with advanced HNSCC or those who are intolerant to traditional chemotherapy and can be used in combination with radiation therapy.216, 217, 218, 219 Cetuximab competitively blocks the binding of EGF to EGFR, thus inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting the expression of molecules that play a significant role in tumor metastasis (e.g., VEGF, MMP).220