Squamous carcinoma of the head and neck: Molecular mechanisms and potential biomarkers

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck remains a major health p roblem worldwide. Recent advances in cell biology suggest that cancer resul ts from the accumulation of specific genetic mutations, many of which have now been identified. These mutations can cause the activation of genes that promote cellular proliferation or inhibit cell death (oncogenes), or they may inactivate genes that inhibit proliferation or promote cell death (tumo ur suppressor genes). Although there is no known set sequence of events lea ding to the formation of SCC of the head and neck, there is evidence that m any of the genomic mutations implicated in other forms of cancer have an ae tiological role in these tumours. Certain viruses, notably Epstein-Barr vir us and some types of human papillomaviruses, are causally related to some h ead and neck cancers. There is now the prospect of using molecular markers to achieve earlier diagnosis and to aid in the prediction of both tumour be haviour and likely responses to particular treatment modalities.