title: Predictive Factors for Outcome and Quality of Life in HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative HNSCC.
abstract: Infection with high-risk types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) is an etiological risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and associated with a better response to therapy and improved survival. A better understanding of the molecular principles underlying the differences in clinical behavior could pave the way to establish more effective and less toxic therapy for HPV-positive OPSCC and their HPV-negative counterparts. Compelling experimental evidence demonstrates that extensive global reprogramming of epigenetic profiles is as important as genetic mutations during neoplastic transformation and malignant progression, including HPV-positive OPSCC. In this chapter, the current knowledge on HPV-related alterations in DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromosome remodeling will be summarized and assessment of cancer-related profiles will be discussed as a valuable tool to gain important diagnostic or prognostic information for therapeutic decision-making and clinical management of HNSCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital and Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. jochen.hess@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
keywords: Chromosome remodeling; DNA methylation; DNMT; HDAC; Histone modification