Molecular mechanisms of head and neck cancer

Abstract

Despite advances in understanding the underlying genetics, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) remains a major health risk and one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. Current standards of treatment have significantly improved long-term survival rates of patients, but second tumors and metastases still remain the most frequent cause of high mortality in SCCHN patients. A better understanding of the underlying genetic mechanisms of SCCHN tumorigenesis will help in developing better diagnostics and, hence, better cures. In this article we will briefly outline the current state of diagnostics and treatment and our understanding of the molecular causes of SCCHN.

Keywords::

• chemical carcinogenesis
• diagnostics
• molecular genetics
• squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Yong Kim for advice and comments on the manuscript. We apologize to those colleagues whose work has not been cited directly due to space limitations.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work is supported by a Public Health Service grant RO1-DE15970. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.