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Head Neck Cancer Cure - Head Neck Cancer Medicine Drug
TREATMENT CENTERS - SURVIVAL RATE - DRUGS AND MEDICINE - INFORMATION
- ATTORNEYS


The term head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically
similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract,
including the lip, oral cavity (mouth), nasal cavity, paranasal
sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. Most head and neck cancers are squamous
cell carcinomas, originating from the mucosal lining (epithelium) of
these regions.[1] Head and neck cancers often spread to the lymph
nodes of the neck, and this is often the first (and sometimes only)
manifestation of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Head and neck
cancer is strongly associated with certain environmental and
lifestyle risk factors, including tobacco smoking, alcohol
consumption, and certain strains of the sexually transmitted human
papillomavirus. Head and neck cancer is highly curable if detected
early, most often through a combination of chemotherapy and radiation
therapy, although surgery may also play an important role.
Contents [hide]
1 Classification
1.1 Oral cavity
1.2 Nasopharynx
1.3 Oropharynx
1.4 Hypopharynx
1.5 Larynx
1.6 Trachea
2 Etiology
3 Diagnosis
3.1 Symptoms
3.2 Diagnostic approach
3.3 Histopathology
3.3.1 Squamous Cell Carcinoma
3.3.2 Epidimoid Cancer
3.3.3 Adenocarcinoma
4 Treatment
4.1 General considerations
4.2 Surgery
4.3 Radiation therapy
4.4 Chemotherapy
4.5 Targeted therapy
5 Prognosis
5.1 Residual deficits
5.2 Problem of second primaries
5.3 Digestive system
5.4 Respiratory system
5.5 Others
6 Prevention
7 Epidemiology
8 References
9 See also
10 External links
[edit] Classification
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC's) make up the vast
majority of head and neck cancers, and arise from mucosal surfaces
throughout this anatomic region. These include tumors of the nasal
cavities, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx,
hypopharynx, and larynx.
[edit] Oral cavity
Main article: Oral cancer
Squamous cell cancers are common in the oral cavity, including the
inner lip, tongue, floor of mouth, gingivae, and hard palate. Cancers
of the oral cavity are strongly associated with tobacco use,
especially use of chewing tobacco or "dip", as well as
heavy alcohol use. Cancers of this region, particularly the tongue,
are more frequently treated with surgery than are other head and neck cancers.
Surgeries for oral cancers include
Maxillectomy (can be done with or without Orbital exenteration
Mandibulectomy (removal of the mandible or lower jaw or part of it)
Glossectomy (tongue removal, can be total, hemi or partial)
Radical neck dissection
Moh's procedure
Combinational e.g. glossectomy and laryngectomy done together.
The defect is covered/improved by using another part of the body
and/or skin grafts and/or wearing a prosthesis.
[edit] Nasopharynx
Nasopharyngeal cancer arises in the nasopharynx, the region in which
the nasal cavities and the Eustachian tubes connect with the upper
part of the throat. While some nasopharyngeal cancers are
biologically similar to the common HNSCC, "poorly
differentiated" nasopharyngeal carcinoma is distinct in its
epidemiology, biology, clinical behavior, and treatment, and is
treated as a separate disease by many experts.
Surgeries for nasal cancer (cancer of the nose)
Surgery to removal the entire nose or part of the nose. Removal of
all of the nose is called a total rhinectomy, for part of the nose it
is called a partial rhinectomy. Afterwards to cover the defect, a new
nose can be made by using another part of the body and/or a nose
prosthesis is made.
[edit] Oropharynx
Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the oropharynx, the middle part of the
throat that includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the
tonsils. Squamous cell cancers of the tonsils are more strongly
associated with human papillomavirus infection than are cancers of
other regions of the head and neck.
[edit] Hypopharynx
The hypopharynx includes the pyriform sinuses, the posterior
pharyngeal wall, and the postcricoid area. Tumors of the hypopharynx
frequently have an advanced stage at diagnosis, and have the most
adverse prognoses of pharyngeal tumors. They tend to metastasize
early due to the extensive lymphatic network around the larynx.
[edit] Larynx
Laryngeal cancer begins in the larynx or "voice box."
Cancer may occur on the vocal cords themselves ("glottic"
cancer), or on tissues above and below the true cords
("supraglottic" and "subglottic" cancers
respectively). Laryngeal cancer is strongly associated with tobacco smoking.
Surgeries can include partial laryngectomy (removal of part of the
larynx) and total laryngectomy (removal of the whole larynx). If the
whole larynx has been removed the person is left with a permanent
tracheostomy opening and learns to speak again in a new way with the
help of intensive teaching and speech therapy and/or an electronic device.
Also anyone who has had a glossectomy (tongue removal) will be taught
to speak again in a new way and have intensive speech therapy.
[edit] Trachea
Cancer of the trachea is a rare malignancy which can be biologically
similar in many ways to head and neck cancer, and is sometimes
classified as such.
Most tumors of the salivary glands differ from the common carcinomas
of the head and neck in etiology, histopathology, clinical
presentation, and therapy, Other uncommon tumors arising in the head
and neck include teratomas, adenocarcinomas, adenoid cystic
carcinomas, and mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Rarer still are melanomas
and lymphomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.
[edit] Etiology
Alcohol[2] and tobacco use are the most common risk factors for head
and neck cancer in the United States. Alcohol and tobacco are likely
synergistic in causing cancer of the head and neck.[3] Smokeless
tobacco is an etiologic agent for oral and pharyngeal cancers.[4]
Cigar smoking is an important risk factor for oral cancers as
well.[5] Other potential environmental carcinogens include marijuana
and occupational exposures such as nickel refining, exposure to
textile fibers, and woodworking. Cigarette smokers have a lifetime
increased risk for head and neck cancers that is 5- to 25-fold
increased over the general population.[6] The ex-smoker's risk for
squamous cell cancer of the head and neck begins to approach the risk
in the general population twenty years after smoking cessation. The
high prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use worldwide and the high
association of these cancers with these substances makes them ideal
targets for enhanced cancer prevention.
Dietary factors may contribute. Excessive consumption of processed
meats and red meat were associated with increased rates of cancer of
the head and neck in one study, while consumption of raw and cooked
vegetables seemed to be protective.[7] Vitamin E was not found to
prevent the development of leukoplakia, the white plaques that are
the precursor for carcinomas of the mucosal surfaces, in adult
smokers.[8] Another study examined a combination of Vitamin E and
beta carotene in smokers with early-stage cancer of the oropharynx,
and found a worse prognosis in the vitamin users.[9]
Betel-nut chewing is associated with an increased risk of squamous
cell cancer of the head and neck.[10]
Some head and neck cancers may have a viral etiology.[11] The DNA of
human papillomavirus has been detected in the tissue of oral and
tonsil cancers, and may predispose to oral cancer in the absence of
tobacco and alcohol use. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is
associated with nasopharyngeal cancer.[11] Nasopharyngeal cancer
occurs endemically in some countries of the Mediterranean and Asiat,
where EBV antibody titers can be measured to screen high-risk
populations.[11] Nasopharyngeal cancer has also been associated with
consumption of salted fish, which may contain high levels of nitrites.
There are a wide variety of factors which can put someone at a
heightened risk for throat cancer. Such factors include smoking or
chewing tobacco or other things, such as betel, gutkha, marijuana or
paan, heavy alcohol consumption, poor diet resulting in vitamin
deficiencies (worse if this is caused by heavy alcohol intake),
weakened immune system, asbestos exposure, prolonged exposure to wood
dust or paint fumes, exposure to petroleum industry chemicals, and
being over the age of 55 years. Another risk factor includes the
appearance of white patches or spots in the mouth, known as
leukoplakia; in about ? of the cases this develops into cancer.
The presence of acid reflux disease (GERD - gastroesphogeal reflux
disease) or larynx reflux disease can also be a major factor. In the
case of acid reflux disease, stomach acids flow up into the esophagus
and damage its lining, making it more susceptible to throat cancer.
Ethnicity may also play a part, with African American men in the U.S.
being found to be at a 50% higher risk of throat cancer than
caucasian men.
[edit] Diagnosis
[edit] Symptoms
Throat Cancer usually begins with symptoms that seem harmless enough,
like an enlarged lymph node on the outside of the neck, a sore throat
or a hoarse sounding voice. However, in the case of throat cancer,
these conditions may persist and become chronic. There may be a lump
or a sore in the throat or neck that does not heal or go away. There
may be difficult or painful swallowing. Speaking may become
difficult. There may be a persistent earache. Other possible but less
common symptoms include some numbness or paralysis of the face muscles.
Presenting symptoms include
Mass in the neck
Neck pain
Weight loss
Bleeding from the mouth
Sinus congestion, especially with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
[edit] Diagnostic approach
A patient usually presents to the physician complaining of one or
more of the above symptoms The patient will typically undergo a
needle biopsy of this lesion, and a histopathologic information is
available, a multidisciplinary discussion of the optimal treatment
strategy will be undertaken between the radiation oncologist,
surgical oncologist, and medical oncologist.
[edit] Histopathology
Throat cancers are classified according to their histology or cell
structure, and are commonly referred to by their location in the oral
cavity and neck. This is because where the cancer appears in the
throat affects the prognosis - some throat cancers are more
aggressive than others depending upon their location. The stage at
which the cancer is diagnosed is also a critical factor in the
prognosis of throat cancer.
[edit] Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cells are the epithelium (tissue layer) that is the surface
cells of much of the body. Skin and mucous membranes are squamous
cells. This is the most common form of larynx cancer, accounting for
over 90% of throat cancer.[reference please] Squamous Cell Carcinoma
is most likely to appear in males over 40 years of age with a history
of heavy alcohol use coupled with smoking.
[edit] Epidimoid Cancer
(See Squamous Cell Carcinoma)
[edit] Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a cancer of the columnar epithelium typical of the
lower esophagus. It is typical of Barrett's Esophagus but may be at
another location. Adenocarcinoma is thought of as a product of
Barrett's Esophagus.
[edit] Treatment
[edit] General considerations
Improvements in diagnosis and local management, as well as targeted
therapy, have led to improvements in quality of life and survival for
head and neck cancer patients since 1992[12]
After a histologic diagnosis has been established and tumor extent
determined, the selection of appropriate treatment for a specific
cancer depends on a complex array of variables, including tumor site,
relative morbidity of various treatment options, patient performance
and nutritional status, concomitant health problems, social and
logistic factors, previous primary tumors, and patient preference.
Treatment planning generally requires a multidisciplinary approach
involving specialist surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists.
Several generalizations are useful in therapeutic decision making,
but variations on these themes are numerous. Surgical resection and
radiation therapy are the mainstays of treatment for most head and
neck cancers and remain the standard of care in most cases. For small
primary cancers without regional metastases (stage I or II), wide
surgical excision alone or curative radiation therapy alone is used.
More extensive primary tumors, or those with regional metastases
(stage III or IV), planned combinations of pre- or postoperative
radiation and complete surgical excision are generally used. Survival
and recurrence risk has been roughly equivalent between surgical and
radiation-based approaches, with a head-to-head comparison in only
one randomized study[citation needed]. More recently, as historical
survival and control rates are recognized as less than satisfactory,
there has been an emphasis on the use of various induction or
concomitant chemotherapy regimens.
Patients with head and neck cancer can be categorized into three
clinical groups: those with localized disease, those with locally or
regionally advanced disease, and those with recurrent and/or
metastatic disease. Comorbidities (medical problems in addition to
the diagnosed cancer) associated with tobacco and alcohol abuse can
affect treatment outcome and the tolerability of aggressive treatment
in a given patient.
Many different treatments and therapies are used in the treatment of
throat cancer. The type of treatment and therapies used are largely
determined by the location of the cancer in the throat area and also
the extent to which the cancer has spread at time of diagnosis.
Patients also have the right to decide whether or not they wish
to consent to a particular treatment. For example, some may decide to
not undergo radiation therapy which has serious side effects if it
means they will be extending their lives by only a few months or so.
Others may feel that the extra time is worth it and wish to pursue
the treatments.
[edit] Surgery
Surgery as a treatment is sometimes used in cases of throat cancer.
In such cases an attempt is made to remove the cancerous cells. This
can be particularly tricky if the cancer is near the larynx and can
result in the patient being unable to speak. Surgery is more commonly
used to resection (remove) some of the lymph nodes to prevent further
spread of the disease.
[edit] Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the most common form of treatment. There are
different forms of radiation therapy. One of newer treatments is
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy or IMRT which is able to focus more
precisely so that fewer healthy cells are destroyed than was the case
with some of the older radiation therapies. IMRT reduces incidental
damage to the many important structures of the throat and mouth that
may not be involved. However, if the cancer has metastisized or is
widespread, the older form of treatment may be the most effective at
slowing the progression of the disease. Radiation will generally
cause the patient to feel sicker and weaker for several weeks
following the treatment, but is a very effective treatment in
stopping the disease.
Radiation mask used in treatment of throat cancer
[edit] Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy in throat cancer is not generally used to cure the
cancer as such. Instead, it is used to provide an inhospitable
environment for metastases so that they will not establish in other
parts of the body. Typical chemotherapy agents are a combination of
Taxol and Carboplatin. Erbitux is also used in the treatment of
throat cancer. While not specifically a chemotherapy, Amifostine is
often administered intravenously by a chemotherapy clinic prior to a
patient's radiotherapy sessions. Amifostine protects the patient's
gums and salivary glands from the effects of radiation.
[edit] Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy, according to the National Cancer Institute, is
"a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances, such
as monoclonal antibodies, to identify and attack specific cancer
cells without harming normal cells." Some targeted therapy used
in squamous cell cancers of the head and neck include cetuximab,
bevacizumab, and erlotinib.
The best quality data are available for cetuximab since the 2006
publication of a randomized clinical trial comparing radiation
treatment plus cetuximab versus radiation treatment alone.[13] This
study found that concurrent cetuximab and radiotherapy improves
survival and locoregional disease control compared to radiotherapy
alone, without a substantial increase in side effects, as would be
expected with the concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which is the current
gold standard treatment for advanced head and neck cancer. Whilst
this study is of pivotal significance, interpretation is difficult
since cetuximab-radiotherapy was not directly compared to
chemoradiotherapy. The results of ongoing studies to clarify the role
of cetuximab in this disease are awaited with interest.
Another study evaluated the impact of adding cetuximab to
conventional chemotherapy (cisplatin) versus cisplatin alone. This
study found no improvement in survival or disease-free survival with
the addition of cetuximab to the conventional chemotherapy.[14]
However, another study which completed in March 2007 found that there
was an improvement in survival.
The EXTREME (Erbitux in First-Line Treatment of Recurrent or
Metastatic Head & Neck Cancer) study is a European multicenter
phase III trial to determine whether adding cetuximab improves the
impact of platinum-based chemotherapy.
Between December 2004 and March 2007, researchers enrolled 442
patients in 17 countries who had stage III or IV recurrent and/or
metastatic SCCHN, and who were not candidates for further surgery or
radiation. About half of the patients had cancer in their pharynx
(throat), and a quarter in their larynx (voice box), but none in the
nasopharynx (upper part of the throat). The patients averaged 57
years of age. Only about 10 percent were women.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either chemotherapy (222
patients) or the same chemotherapy with cetuximab (220 patients).
Chemotherapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil plus either carboplatin or cisplatin.
The trial was led by Jan Vermorken, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of
Antwerp in Belgium. Vermmorken as well as other researchers involved
in the trial have various relationships with Merck KGaA, Amgen,
Oxygene, and sanofi-aventis. Merck KGaA provided funding for the
study. (See the protocol summary.)
Results Patients treated with cetuximab reduced their risk of dying
by 20 percent, surviving a median of 10.1 months compared to 7.4
months for those receiving chemotherapy alone.
Head and neck cancer clinical trials employing bevacizumab, an
inhibitor of the angiogenesis receptor VEGF, are recruiting patients
as of March, 2007. No published clinical trial information is
available as of that date.
Erlotinib is an oral EGFR inhibitor, and was found in one Phase II
clinical trial to retard disease progression.[15] Scientific evidence
for the effectiveness of erlotinib is otherwise lacking to this
point. A clinical trial evaluating the use of erlotinib in metastatic
head and neck cancer is recruiting patients as of March, 2007.
[edit] Prognosis
Although early-stage head and neck cancers (especially laryngeal and
oral cavity) have high cure rates, up to 50% of head and neck cancer
patients present with advanced disease.[16] Cure rates decrease in
locally advanced cases, whose probability of cure is inversely
related to tumor size and even more so to the extent of regional node
involvement. Consensus panels in America (AJCC) and Europe (UICC)
have established staging systems for head and neck squamous cancers.
These staging systems attempt to standardize clinical trial criteria
for research studies, and attempt to define prognostic categories of
disease. Squamous cell cancers of the head and neck are staged
according to the TNM classification system, where T is the size and
configuration of the tumor, N is the presence or absence of lymph
node metastases, and M is the presence or absence of distant
metastases. The T, N, and M characteristics are combined to produce a
stage of the cancer, from I to IVB.[17]
[edit] Residual deficits
Even after successful definitive therapy, head and neck cancer
patients face tremendous impacts on quality of life. Despite marked
advances in reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation,
intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and conservation approaches
to certain malignancies, some patients continue to have significant
functional deficits.
[edit] Problem of second primaries
Survival advantages provided by new treatment modalities have been
undermined by the significant percentage of patients cured of head
and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who subsequently develop
second primary tumors. The incidence of second primary tumors ranges
in studies from 9.1%[18] to 23%[19] at 20 years. Second primary
tumors are the major threat to long-term survival after successful
therapy of early-stage HNSCC. Their high incidence results from the
same carcinogenic exposure responsible for the initial primary
process, called field cancerization.
Throat cancer has numerous negative effects on the body systems.
[edit] Digestive system
As it can impair a persons ability to swallow and eat, throat
cancer affects the digestive system. The difficulty in swallowing can
lead to a person to choke on their food in the early stages of
digestion and interfere with the foods smooth travels down into
the esophagus and beyond.
The treatments for throat cancer can also be harmful to the digestive
system as well as other body systems. Radiation therapy can lead to
nausea and vomiting, which can deprive a body of vital fluids
(although these may be obtained through intravenous fluids if
necessary). Frequent vomiting can lead to an electrolyte imbalance
which has serious consequences for the proper functioning of the
heart. Frequent vomiting can also upset the balance of stomach acids
which has a negative impact on the digestive system, especially the
lining of the stomach and esophagus.
[edit] Respiratory system
In the cases of some throat cancers, the air passages in the mouth
and behind the nose may become blocked from lumps or the swelling
from the open sores. If the throat cancer is near the bottom of the
throat it has a high likelihood of spreading to the lungs and
interfering with the persons ability to breathe; this is even
more likely if the patient is a smoker, because they are highly
susceptible to lung cancer. If the respiratory system is unable to
bring oxygen into the body, the oxygen deprivation will cause the
body's cells to wither and die, causing one to become weaker and sicker.
[edit] Others
Like any cancer, metastasization affects many areas of the body, as
the cancer spreads from cell to cell and organ to organ. For example,
if it spreads to the bone marrow, it will prevent the body from
producing enough red blood cells and affects the proper functioning
of the white blood cells and the body's immune system; spreading to
the circulatory system will prevent oxygen from being transported to
all the cells of the body; and throat cancer can throw the nervous
system into chaos, making it unable to properly regulate and control
the body.
[edit] Prevention
Avoidance of recognised risk factors (as described above) is the
single most effective form of prevention. Regular dental examinations
may identify pre-cancerous lesions in the oral cavity. It will be
interesting to see what effect the widespread use of HPV vaccines has
on the incidence of HPV-related H&N cancers.
[edit] Epidemiology
The number of new cases of head and neck cancers in the United States
was 40,490 in 2006, accounting for about 3% of adult malignancies.
11,170 patients died of their disease in 2006.[20] The worldwide
incidence exceeds half a million cases annually. In North America and
Europe, the tumors usually arise from the oral cavity, oropharynx, or
larynx, whereas nasopharyngeal cancer is more common in the
Mediterranean countries and in the Far East. In Southeast China and
Taiwan, head and neck cancer, specifically Nasopharyngeal Cancer is
the most common cause of death in young men.[21] African Americans
are disproportionately affected by head and neck cancer, with younger
ages of incidence, increased mortality, and more advanced disease at presentation.[22]
In the U.S. there were 28,900 people diagnosed with cancers of the
throat and oral cavity in 2002.[23]
Seventy-four hundred Americans are projected to die of these cancers.[23]
More than 70% of throat cancers are at an advanced stage when discovered.[24]
Men are 89% more likely than women to be diagnosed with, and are
almost twice as likely to die of, these cancers.[23]
African-American men are at a 50% higher risk of throat cancer than
Caucasian males.[reference please]
Smoking and tobacco use are directly related to Oro-pharangeal
(throat) cancer deaths.[25]
[edit] References
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^ Spitz M (1994). "Epidemiology and risk factors for head and
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^ Burtness B, Goldwasser M, Flood W, Mattar B, Forastiere A (2005).
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^ Jones A, Morar P, Phillips D, Field J, Husband D, Helliwell T
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[edit] See also
oral cancer
cancer of the larynx
thyroid cancer
adenoid cystic carcinoma - a type of salivary gland cancer
Burkitt's lymphoma - a type of lymphoma that affects the head and neck
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans - a type of sarcoma that may involve
the head and neck
Hodgkin's disease - a lymphoma that often involves the lymph nodes in
the neck
paraganglioma - usually found in the head and neck region
skin cancers - may involve the head and neck
Bobby Hamilton - a NASCAR driver who died of head and neck cancer
[edit] External links
Head and Neck Cancer - Learn more from MedlinePlus
Head and Neck Cancer Information
Head and Neck Cancer: Questions and Answers
Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment
RadiologyInfo - The radiology information resource for patients: Head
and Neck Cancer
[1] -- The website of an organization dedicated to supporting people
with oral, head and neck cancers (includes a cancer information page)
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