title: Future challenges in head and neck cancer: from the bench to the bedside?
abstract: HNC is the 11th most frequent carcinoma with a world-wide yearly incidence exceeding over half a million cases [1], a 10:1 male gender predilection and country specific variability [2]. The principal risk factors are tobacco and alcohol use and, in a growing population without these exposures, HPV infection. While much progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of cancer, the 5-year mortality of head and neck cancer has remained approximately 50%. To this date we have not been able to translate as much of our basic science knowledge into significant disease altering therapeutic strategies in terms of local, loco-regional, functional and overall survival. Challenges remain in all aspects of head and neck cancer management: prevention, diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head & Neck Surgery, Head & Neck Multi-Disciplinary Task Force, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. luca.calabrese@ieo.it
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostuni
authors.forename: Mohssen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansarin
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maffini
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alterio
authors.forename: Maria Cossu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petralia
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruschini
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiesa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006257:Head / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents