THE GENETIC-BASIS OF HEAD AND NECK-CARCINOMA

Research over the past few years has pointed to a genetic basis for nu merous cancers. Efforts in this regard are ongoing in squamous carcino ma of the head and neck. Today surgeons and residents in training need to stay up to date on molecular biology and the genetic sequences tha t are necessary to form a malignancy. In addition, these changes offer diagnosticians and therapists novel ways both to diagnose and treat m alignancies. An evolution in molecular genetics, tumor virology, and t umor biology has led to our understanding of how malignancies arise. T here are two pathways of cancer production: the activation of an oncog ene or the mutation of a tumor suppressor gene. This review discusses the interaction of these genetic changes in the development of squamou s carcinoma of the head and neck, their relationship to tobacco and al cohol use, as well as methods to detect the presence of malignancy and novel techniques that may be used to treat malignancies in the future .