What’s New in Head and Neck Cancer: Key Findings in 2015–2016 From ECCO/ESMO, ASTRO, and the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium

Abstract

Scientific investigation is extremely active in the treatment, management, and optimization of therapies for patients with head and neck cancer. These issues have undergone recent rapid evolution in response to a changing epidemiology based on an increasing proportion of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer with advances in multimodality technologies to improve outcomes and reduce toxicity. Choices of definitive treatment of various anatomic subsites are being refined, balancing the relative indications and advantages of surgery or chemoradiation-based strategies. The major potential influence of HPV-associated etiology on therapy selection, prognostic factors, response to treatment, survival outcomes, and post-treatment surveillance has created a robust and distinct field of scientific inquiry around this patient subset. Meanwhile, for patient subsets where prognosis remains poor, therapeutic intensification is being explored, and for recurrent/metastatic disease, improved selection for salvage and novel systemic therapies are under development. For all patients with head and neck cancer, upholding principles of equity and access to the highly specialized care that results in optimal outcomes should be the goal.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis

“…Despite the development of the diagnostic method and use of aggressive multiple therapeutic regimens, most of the HNSCC patients finally develop locoregional recurrence or metastatic disease, and the 5-year survival rate is ~50%. 4 , 32 So it is very important to find a reliable blood marker to monitor locoregional or distant recurrence and predict the prognosis of the HNSCC patients. Recently, the research on CTCs indicates that CTCs may act as very significant prognostic markers in patients with HNSCC.…”

Circulating human papillomavirus DNA as a surveillance tool in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The increased incidence is mainly driven by an increased incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated OPSCC . Patients with HPV+ OPSCC often present with cancers in an advanced TNM stage, but compared to HPV‐negative (−) OPSCC, these patients responds markedly better to treatment . However, up to 30% of patients with HPV+ OPSCC treated with curative intent will develop a recurrence .…”

Impact of Induction Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced HPV-negative Oropharyngeal Cancer. A Propensity Score-matched analysis

“…Moreover, there is increasing interest in HPV status. HPV etiology (HPV-positive) appears to be associated with better clinical outcomes, suggesting that intensification of treatment strategy may be necessary in patients with HPV-negative squamous cell carcinoma (9).…”