Prognostic and predictive factors in oral cancer: the role of the invasivetumour front

Most decisions for cancer patients are now made on the basis of prognostic and predictive factors. However, due to the limited prognostic value of con ventional tumour/nodal/ metastasis staging and histopathological grading in oral cancer, a large group of patients are still over- or under-treated wi th significant personal and socioeconomical impact. Recent work indicates t hat morphological and functional characteristics of the invasive tumour fro nt underlie the biological aggressiveness of oral cancer. Incorporation of these concepts into a prognostic system will better reflect the biologic di versity of oral cancer and more accurately predict clinical outcomes and re sponses to particular types of adjuvant therapy.