Molecular markers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: promising signs in need of prospective evaluation.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this article is to review recent developments in the biological understanding of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.


RESULTS
We describe the markers according to their function and their prognostic or predictive roles. Some associations can be found between molecular markers and invasiveness, aggressiveness, degree of differentiation, and tumor stage, but only a few clinical studies have shown an impact on prognosis. In addition, despite an increasing number of articles relating to this topic, the small number of patients included in the studies reported reduces the clinical implications of these results. Few studies applied a more comprehensive molecular analysis approach, such as DNA microarrays or differential expression profiling by polymerase chain reaction, to identify a combination of markers that could be more informative than a single molecular marker.


CONCLUSIONS
Some progress has been made with respect to molecular markers and head and neck cancers. Translational and prospective, hypothesis-driven research must proceed with sufficient rigor to facilitate the clinical applicability of such results.
Lothaire
Phillipe
P
Department of Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium.
de Azambuja
Evandro
E
Dequanter
Didier
D
Lalami
Yassine
Y
Sotiriou
Christos
C
Andry
Guy
G
Castro
Gilberto
G
Awada
Ahmad
A
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D016158:Genes, p53; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D066246:ErbB Receptors