title: Molecular Aspects of Head and Neck Cancer Therapy.
abstract: In spite of a rapidly expanding understanding of head and neck tumor biology and optimization of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical treatment modalities, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Although our biologic understanding of these tumors had largely been limited to pathways driving proliferation, survival, and differentiation, the identification of HPV as a major driver of HNSCC and genomic sequencing analyses has dramatically influenced our understanding of tumor biology and approach to therapy. Here, we summarize molecular aspects of HNSCC biology and identify promising areas for potential diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Sidharth V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Puram
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wexner Medical Center, James Cancer Hospital, Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 320 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: james.rocco@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rocco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D023281:Genomics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
keywords: Genomic sequencing; Head and neck cancer; Intratumor heterogeneity; Molecular biology; Squamous cell carcinoma; Synthetic lethality; Targeted therapy