State of Rehabilitation Research in the Head and Neck Cancer Population: Functional Impact vs. Impairment-Focused Outcomes

Under recognition and treatment of lymphedema in head and neck cancer survivors – a database study

“…Like radiation brosis syndrome (RFS), lymphedema is a progressive process associated with protein deposition, brosis and sclerosis. 5,8,24 Unlike RFS, the protein deposition and brosis resulting from lymphedema may be mitigated, at least to some degree, by effective lymphedema therapies such as MLD, compression and APCD utilization. [25][26][27][28][29] This raises the possibility that not identifying and addressing HNL may contribute to progression of brosis-related issues by superimposing lymphedema-related brosis on top of radiation-related brosis.…”

“…3 Improved treatment outcomes coupled with this changing epidemiology will result in many more HNC survivors destined to live their lives, often from a relatively young age, with the late effects of HNC and its treatment. 4,5 Lymphedema is characterized by several pathophysiological events, including lymph stasis, lymphatic vessel remodeling and dysfunction, in ammation, adipose tissue deposition, and ultimately brosis. 6 Head and neck lymphedema (HNL), a common complication of HNC, results from treatments such as neck dissection and/or radiation.…”

“…5,8,14,16−19 Progression of HNL and brosis is associated with increasing symptom burden, functional impairment, and reduced quality of life. 5,17 There is growing evidence in the breast cancer literature that early recognition and effective treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema improves outcomes. 20,21 Though less robust, evidence also suggests that the early identi cation and effective treatment of HNL may improve functional outcomes including dyspnea, pain, and dysphagia in HNC survivors.…”

Embracing Complexity—the Role of Cancer Rehabilitation in Restoring and Maintaining Function and Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors with Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome

“…Additionally, a significant number of survivors also had cardiovascular (70%), pulmonary (44%), endocrine (63%), gastrointestinal (29%), and other visceral late effects. A recent review of the functional issues facing HNC survivors addresses dysphagia, xerostomia, dysgeusia, dysosmia, odynophagia, trismus, first bite syndrome, dysarthria, dysphonia, lymphedema, shoulder syndrome, cervicalgia, cervical dystonia and dropped head syndrome, deconditioning, and fatigue [ 4 •]. A more medically focused review listed loss of saliva, osteoradionecrosis, radiation recall myositis, pharyngoesophageal stenosis, dental caries, oral cavity necrosis, fibrosis, impaired wound healing, skin changes and skin cancer, lymphedema, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, lightheadedness, dizziness and headaches, secondary cancer, and eye, ear, neurological, and neck structure damage as late effects [ 5 ].…”

Multi-omics analysis reveals prognostic and therapeutic value of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…Despite improvements in imaging technologies, surgical methods, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy, there has been no significant improvement in the 5-year survival rate of OSCC patients ( Kumar et al, 2016 ; Zanoni et al, 2019 ). Worse still, many OSCC patients still battle with the terrible side effects even after receiving treatment, including depression, nutritional deficiencies and damage of the patient’s appearance and ability to complete daily activities ( Parke et al, 2022 ). Currently, histological characteristics are the basis for vast majority of the clinical prediction signatures.…”