title: The nature of the head and neck cancer.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a disease predominantly of males and is due to a variety of known environmental irritants, notably cigarette smoke. Dietary, viral and immunological factors may also be relevant. Head and neck squamous cancers express epidermal growth factor receptors and some show weak levels of oestrogen receptor activity, but a reliable serum marker of tumour burden remains to be identified. The prognosis is found to be less favourable in females, in those with advanced T stage, in association with multiple node involvement, especially where extracapsular spread is present and where the T4/T8 ratio is elevated. Administration of heterologous blood during therapy may also have an adverse effect on prognosis. Interested clinicians must remember that most cases are preventable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Maran
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Gaze
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors