Molecular markers as prognostic factors for local recurrence and radioresistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck affects more than 500,000 people worldwide each year. Local-regional recurrence of disease is a common and challenging oncological problem in patients affected by this disease. Identification of risk factors for local relapse after appropriate local therapy with surgery, radiation, or combination therapy remains an active area of clinical research. The recent development of novel molecular markers has resulted in numerous studies evaluating the prognostic significance and potential clinical utility of these markers in identifying patients at risk for local-regional relapse. This article reviews recent studies evaluating molecular markers, including p53, angiogenesis-related markers, cyclin D1, epidermal growth factor receptor, loss of heterozygosity, DNA ploidy, and cell kinetic markers. The potential clinical utility of these markers and future directions along this avenue of investigation are discussed.
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8040, USA.
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D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000032:analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019938:Cyclin D1; D066246:ErbB Receptors