Major Risk Factors in Head and Neck Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of 12-Year Experiences

Abstract

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.

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels in Head-and-Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potentials

“…Unfortunately, changes in TRP expressions appear to be cancer-specific. For instance, TRPV1 expression is increased in HNSCC [ 3 ] and prostate cancer [ 132 ] but is markedly reduced or absent in renal cell carcinoma [ 102 ] or urothelial carcinoma [ 116 ]. Moreover, TRPV2 overexpression heralds poor prognosis in esophageal SCC [ 105 ], but identifies a subgroup of triple-negative breast cancer patients with favorable prognosis [ 114 ].…”

“…More than 90% of head-and-neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) [ 2 ]. Historical risk factors for HNSCC include tobacco use and alcohol consumption [ 3 ]. In fact, the decreasing incidence of HNSCC in developed countries coincides with the decline in smoking habits.…”

Merkel cell polyomavirus detected in head and neck carcinomas from Chile

“…HNSCC is strongly associated with certain environmental and lifestyle risk factors such as tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption [15]. In addition, infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), especially HPV type 16, is a risk factor for oropharyngeal tumors that involve the tonsils or the base of the tongue [16], while infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancers [17].…”

Repertoire of peripheral T cells in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and >500,000 new OSCC patients are diagnosed every year (Sasahira, Kirita, & Kuniyasu, 2014; Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2018). Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and betel nut chewing are major risk factors for OSCC (Beynon et al, 2018; Dhull, Atri, Dhankhar, Chauhan, & Kaushal, 2018; Madathil et al, 2016). Despite the improvement of clinical therapeutic methods, OSCC has an unfavourable prognosis, with a 5‐year survival rate of approximately 50% (Rivera, Oliveira, Costa, Rossi, & Leme, 2017).…”