Salivary gland carcinomas, paranasal sinus cancers and melanoma of the head and neck: an update about rare but challenging tumors.
OBJECTIVE
This is a review about recent clinical developments in rare cancers of the head and neck.


RESULTS
Progress in molecular biology techniques has allowed the identification of new prognostic factors, and potential molecular-targeted therapies. This is of importance since chemotherapy continues to play a role but is still limited in this group of malignancies. New techniques of irradiation such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy appear to improve the locoregional control of these tumors. Surgery continues to be the cornerstone of treatment, with a growing interest in the technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
As salivary gland carcinomas, paranasal sinus cancers and melanoma of the head and neck are rare malignancies, these tumors must be treated in specialized anticancer centers with access to the latest surgical and irradiation techniques. Moreover, clinical studies with translational research are needed to identify strong prognostic and predictive factors, and effective molecular-targeted therapies.
Jules Bordet Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology Clinic, Brussels, Belgium. yassine.lalami@bordet.be
Yassine
Y
Lalami
Pierre
P
Vereecken
Didier
D
Dequanter
Phillipe
P
Lothaire
Ahmad
A
Awada
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
D015507:Drugs, Investigational