title: Molecular Patterns and Biology of HPV-Associated HNSCC.
abstract: Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. The large majority are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) that develop in the mucosal linings of the upper aerodigestive tract. These tumors develop either by exogenous carcinogen exposure (smoking, alcohol drinking) or by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly those in the oropharynx (OPSCC). HPV-positive (HPV+ve) and HPV-negative (HPV-ve) OPSCC are considered different disease entities. HPV+ve tumors are different at the molecular level and likely as a consequence have a much more favorable prognosis than HPV-ve tumors, despite their generally advanced stage at presentation. In general, HNSCCs develop in precancerous mucosal changes, and the apparent lack of precancerous HPV+ve mucosal changes is therefore remarkable. In this Chapter, head and neck carcinogenesis is discussed and the molecular differences between HPV+ve and HPV-ve tumors are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. rh.brakenhoff@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Ruud H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Brakenhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Klussmann
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
keywords: Epigenetics; Expression profile; Genetic alteration; Head and neck cancer; Human papillomavirus (HPV); MicroRNA (miRNA); Molecular carcinogenesis; Oropharynx