The interplay between microbiome and host factors in pathogenesis and therapy of head and neck cancer.

Heterogeneous cancers that lack strong driver mutations with high penetrance, such as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), present unique challenges to understanding their aetiology due to the complex interactions between genetics and environmental factors. The interplay between lifestyle factors (such as poor oral hygiene, smoking, or alcohol consumption), the oral and gut microbiome, and host genetics appears particularly important in the context of HNSCC. The complex interplay between the gut microbiota and cancer treatment outcomes has also received increasing attention in recent years.

Negative Prognostic Impact of Smoking on Long-term Survival in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Curative (Chemo)radiotherapy.

Background/aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of curative (chemo)radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 73 consecutive patients, treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy from 2002 to 2019 (median stage III/IV 78%). The median total dose of radiotherapy achieved was 70 Gy.