Head and Neck Cancers
Peter G. Shields in Cancer Risk Assessment, 2005
Head and neck cancers, also known as cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, are chiefly squamous cell carcinomas arising in the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx. About 40,000 persons are diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in the United States each year, and about 12,000 die of the disease (1). The male:female ratio of patients is about 2:1 for oral and pharyngeal cancer but 4:1 for laryngeal cancer. Only a fraction of individuals exposed to tobacco smoke and/or alcohol develop SCCHN, suggesting that there are differences in individual susceptibility to carcinogenesis and that the impact of gene–environment interactions should be considered. Tobacco carcinogens undergo a series of metabolic activation and detoxification steps that determine the internal dose of exposure and ultimately impact the level of DNA damage incurred. Both endogenous and exogenous exposure to carcinogens or genotoxic agents cause cell-cycle delays (2) that allow cells to repair such DNA damage. Therefore, the cellular DNA repair capacity (DRC) is central to maintaining genomic integrity and normal cellular functions (3). Recently, molecular epidemiological studies of tobacco-induced carcinogenesis were comprehensively reviewed (4–6). Also, studies have shown that polymorphisms of genes that control drug metabolism (7–9) and DNA repair (10–13) may contribute to the variation in tobacco-induced carcinogenesis in the general population. This chapter focuses on recent molecular epidemiological studies with an emphasis on the role of DNA repair in susceptibility to SCCHN.
Introductory Aspects of Head and Neck Cancers
Loredana G. Marcu, Iuliana Toma-Dasu, Alexandru Dasu, Claes Mercke in Radiotherapy and Clinical Radiobiology of Head and Neck Cancer, 2018
There are also other risk factors for head and neck cancer. These include genetic predisposition, previous head and neck cancer, history of malignant diseases in the immediate family members, exposure to ionising radiation, nutritional disorders or habits, vitamin deficiencies, iron-deficiency anaemia, poor oral hygiene, chronic infections, and long use of badly fitting prostheses. It has been implied that head and neck cancer patients have increased chromosomal sensitivity to carcinogen exposure that predisposes them to developing cancer (Cloos 1996; Schantz 1997). Laboratory in vitro studies have shown that cells from head and neck cancer patients suffer more chromosome breaks upon exposure to a mutagen than do normal control cells (Spitz 1989). Moreover, young patients with these tumours who were nonsmokers demonstrated a mucosa that was particularly mutagen sensitive (Schantz 1989).
Head and neck cancer
Pat Price, Karol Sikora in Treatment of Cancer, 2014
HPV may be associated with tumours of the oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx. A review of the literature demonstrates that, overall, about 26% of such patients have HPV DNA present within tumour biopsies. Type 16 is the most prevalent, particularly in oropharyngeal tumours; type 18 is also important, particularly in tumours of the oral cavity and larynx. Other types of HPV are infrequently associated with squamous head and neck cancer. Patients with HPV-related tumours are a distinct subset of those with head and neck cancer. They are less likely to smoke or drink and are younger and more likely to have indulged in high-risk sexual behaviour (oral sex with multiple partners). The tumours tend to be basaloid or poorly differentiated. Survival is better in patients with HPV-positive tumours.3 In the future, vaccination programmes for cervical cancer may modify the incidence of HPV-related head and neck cancer. In the meantime, we are left with evidence suggesting that HPV-related squamous cancer of the head and neck may be a sexually transmitted disease.
Advances in chlorin-based photodynamic therapy with nanoparticle delivery system for cancer treatment
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2021
Lin Huang, Sajid Asghar, Ting Zhu, Panting Ye, Ziyi Hu, Zhipeng Chen, Yanyu Xiao
Head and neck cancers refer to other malignant tumors located in the head and neck area except brain cancer. Oral cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer are more common, in addition to oropharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, sinus cancer, salivary gland cancer, and thyroid cancer. Common parts of head and neck cancers include oral cavity, nose, throat, sinuses, salivary glands, larynx, etc. mTHPC is the first choice PDT for head and neck cancers. The light energy density is 10–20 J/cm2. Head and neck cancer patients have a tendency to suffer from second or multiple cancers after radical treatment of the primary. Repeated surgery is difficult because of progressive tissue loss. PDT can be used after either radiotherapy or surgery for the noninvasive property. The response rate of mTHPC to second and multiple primary cancers are up to 67% (for all tumors) and 85% (for T1 tumors). mTHPC can be used for patients who are not suitable for surgery and radiotherapy after recurrent head and neck cancer [228–230].
“I would have told you about being forgetful, but I forgot”: the experience of cognitive changes and communicative participation after head and neck cancer
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2020
Susan Bolt, Carolyn Baylor, Michael Burns, Tanya Eadie
Head and neck cancers are primarily squamous cell carcinomas that occur in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses - all critical structures for swallowing, respiration, and communication. Patients treated for head and neck cancers often experience lasting difficulties with verbal communication [1]. In fact, among head and neck cancer survivors, speech outcomes have been identified as the strongest predictor of overall health-related quality of life [2]. Specifically, difficulty communicating in everyday activities, or “communicative participation,” may affect a person’s ability to return to work, establish or maintain relationships, or participate in social contexts [3]. Head and neck cancer patients have identified these roles and activities as extremely important priorities during and after treatment [4,5].
Voice and swallowing after total laryngectomy
Published in Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 2018
Beatriz Arenaz Búa, Hillevi Pendleton, Ulla Westin, Roland Rydell
There was a high occurrence of swallowing problems among the patients as 89% reported a SSQ score higher than the cut-off score 111 [11]. The SSQ is a validated questionnaire, which includes 17 questions describing type of dysfunction, anatomic region and type of bolus, thus it is more appropriate to address swallowing problems than non-validated questionnaires used in other studies [2]. The questions with highest SSQ score were those describing how difficult it was to swallow dry food, how food got stuck in the throat, how they needed to swallow more than once and how quality of live was affected. All these symptoms are reported after treatment of head and neck cancer in other studies [13]. The SSQ mean total score (415) in laryngectomee was quite close to the SSQ mean score (435) reported by Dwivedi et al. for oropharyngeal cancer [13].
Related Knowledge Centers
- Alcohol
- Biopsy
- Tobacco
- Larynx
- Salivary Gland
- Smokeless Tobacco
- Papillomavirus Infection
- Epstein–Barr Virus
- Betel Nut Chewing
- Squamous-Cell Carcinoma