Study Offers New Look at Complex Head and Neck Tumors

In a recent study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the Yale Cancer Center discovered new, critical information about head and neck cancers. Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) ranks among the top ten most prevalent cancers in the United States. Despite its prevalence, little is known about how this cancer develops and spreads. However, an increasing number of head and neck cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Using tissue from HPV-positive and HPV-negative (largely linked to smoking) HNSCC tumors, researchers from institutions around the country referenced The Cancer Genome Atlas to develop a comprehensive assessment of alterations, or oncogenes, that could play a role in how the tumors develop and metastasize. Results of the study showed that the defects in tumors varied broadly across patients, with tumors of some non-smokers (or low smokers) resembling those of smokers. The study also uncovered the presence of the Her2 gene amplification, known to play a critical role in breast cancer. To read more about this study, click here.