title: Molecular pathology of head and neck cancer: implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
abstract: The prototypic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arises from the mucosal lining of the upper aerodigestive tract, demonstrates squamous differentiation microscopically, involves older men with a long history of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, and is treated by multimodality therapy. HNSCC has long been regarded as a uniform disease process requiring a methodical and unwavering therapeutic approach. Divergence in epidemiologic trends among HNSCCs arising from different anatomic sites has introduced a view that, morphologic repetition aside, head and neck cancers form a heterogeneous group. This view has been supported at the molecular genetic level. A more complete understanding of the molecular genetics of head and neck cancer is providing new insights into long-held but poorly comprehended concepts such as field cancerization and is introducing various biomarkers with potential application for diagnosing, staging, monitoring, and prognosticating HNSCC.
authors: Departments of Otolarygology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. spai1@jhmi.edu
authors: Sara I
authors: SI
authors: Pai
authors: William H
authors: WH
authors: Westra
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D018579:Patient Selection; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor