BackgroundHead and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common type of cancer in the world and constitute 5% of the entire cancers worldwide. The global burden of HNC accounts for 650,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths worldwide every year and a major proportion of regional malignancies in India. More than 70% of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are estimated to be avoidable by lifestyle changes, particularly by effective reduction of exposure to well-known risk factors such as tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 12 years (2001 - 2012) of HNC patients attending RCC, PGIMS Rohtak was done. Total numbers of cancer patients seen were 26,295 and out of these 9,950 patients were of HNCs, which were retrospectively analyzed for their associated risk factors in different HNC subtypes. Most of the patients, i.e. 92.3%, were presented as locally advanced HNC (stages III and IV).ResultsIt has been observed that smoking and alcohol are the strongest independent risk factors responsible for increased risk of HNC and are further having synergetic correlations.ConclusionThe present study confirms the principal role of alcohol consumption and smoking in HNC carcinogenesis, as well as the differential associations with HNC subtypes, and a significant, positive, multiplicative interaction with different risk factors.

Squamous cell cancer is the most common type of malignancy arising from the epithelial cells of the head and neck region. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the predominant causes of cancer related casualties worldwide. Overall prognosis in this disease has improved to some extent with the advancements in therapeutic modalities but detection of primary tumor at its initial stage and prevention of relapse are the major targets to be achieved for further improvement in terms of survival rate of patients. Latest achievements in basic research regarding molecular characterization of the disease has helped in better perception of the molecular mechanisms involved in HNSCC progression and also in recognizing and targeting various molecular biomarkers associated with HNSCC. In the present article, we review the information regarding latest and potential biomarkers for the early detection of HNSCC. A detailed molecular characterization, ultimately, is likely to improve the development of new therapeutic strategies, potentially relevant to diagnosis and prognosis of head and neck cancers. The need for more accurate and timely disease prediction has generated enormous research interests in this field.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in different stages of malignancies. Increased levels of NO have been reported in different leukemias. Imatinib is the preferred drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Turmeric powder contains curcumin which has anti-leukemic property and also decreases NO synthesis. This study was conducted on fifty patients of CML divided into two groups, group A receiving imatinib alone and group B receiving turmeric powder along with imatinib for six weeks. Nitric oxide levels were estimated in these patients before and after receiving therapy and were analyzed statistically. Nitric oxide levels were found to be significantly decreased in both the groups, but more significantly in group B after receiving the respective treatments. Thus, curcumin acts as an adjuvant to imatinib in decreasing the NO levels and may help in the treatment of CML patients.

INTRODUCTION Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer in the world. After smoking, alcohol consumption is a strong associated risk factor for HNC. Alcohol consumption has negative impact on health and social consequences. The existing literature shows that alcohol consumption along with smoking is an important risk factor for HNC. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this retrospective analysis of 12-years from 2001 to 2012, total 9,950 patients of histopathologically proven head and neck cancers, were included in the study. The patients were analyzed for their association with alcohol as an associated risk factor along with smoking in different HNC subtypes. RESULTS Male to female ratio was 7:1 and median age of presentation was 54-years. 59% patients were alcoholics (alcoholics only+ smokers as well as alcoholics), out of which 6% were alcoholics only and the strength of association differed between different HNC subtypes; maximum for oropharyngeal group (35%), and 7.6%, 5% and 10% for oral cavity, hypopharynx and larynx respectively. Further evaluation has shown that total smokers (smokers only+ smokers as well as alcoholics) were 89%, out of which 36% were smokers only. At last follow-up, no evidence of disease (NED) was seen in 15% patients among total alcoholics and in 20% patients among non-alcoholics. CONCLUSION The present retrospective study of HNC patients at a tertiary care centre over a period of twelve years concluded the strong association of alcohol consumption with HNC and its different subtypes. Alcohol problems have an enormous toll on lives and communities of the developing nations particularly in the populous regions of the world (e.g. in China and India). There is a need to raise awareness among the population about the negative implications of alcohol consumption and to minimize them.

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