MOLECULAR INSIGHTS INFLUENCING THE MANAGEMENT OF HEAD AND NECK CANCERS

Head and neck cancers represent a clinically diverse group of tumours with distinctive molecular features. Understanding the importance of characteristic molecular changes has permitted the definition of a new clinicopathological entity - the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) related subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas that are generally associated with a good prognosis. We briefly discuss the key clinical and pathological differences between HPV-related and HPV-unrelated oropharyngeal disease and the underlying molecular differences, and we also consider how these features can inform clinical management. For rarer head and neck tumours or those that lack effective systemic treatment options, such as salivary gland tumours, sinonasal carcinomas and NUT midline tumours, we discuss how an understanding of underlying molecular features can facilitate the exploration of novel treatment options. Thus we demonstrate in this brief review, that despite the rarity of most head and neck cancers, evolving insights into the key molecular drivers are impacting on clinical practice.