title: Molecular techniques and genetic alterations in head and neck cancer.
abstract: It is well known that cellular DNA alterations can lead to the formation of cancer, and there has been much discovery in the pathways involved in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). With novel genome-wide molecular assays, our ability to detect these abnormalities has increased. We now have a better understanding of the molecular complexity of HNSCC, but there is still much research to be done. In this review, we discuss the well described genetic alterations and touch on the newer findings, as well as some of the future directions of head and neck cancer research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 1550 E Orleans Street, CRB II Rm 5M06, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. pha1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Patrick K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Glazer
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Califano
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sidransky
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics; D012106:Research