Oncogenic driver mutations predict outcome in a cohort of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients within a clinical trial.

234 diagnostic formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks from homogeneously treated patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) within a multicentre phase III clinical trial were characterised. The mutational spectrum was examined by next generation sequencing in the 26 most frequent oncogenic drivers in cancer and correlated with treatment response and survival. Human papillomavirus (HPV) status was measured by p16INK4a immunohistochemistry in oropharyngeal tumours.

Genetic Susceptibility in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Spanish Population.

Despite classical environmental risk factors like tobacco, alcohol or viral infection, not all individuals develop head and neck cancer. Therefore, identification of the genetic susceptibility produced by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is an important task. A total of 296 human papillomavirus negative head and neck cancer (HNC) patients (126 laryngeal, 100 pharyngeal and 70 oral cavity) were included in the study, involving 29 candidate SNPs in genes within important carcinogenic pathways (oncogenesis and tumour suppression, DNA repair, inflammation, oxidation and apoptosis).

Analysis of autophagy gene polymorphisms in Spanish patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth cancer on incidence worldwide. Tobacco and alcohol consumption are the most classical risk factors associated with its development. Autophagy process has a dual effect both in tumourigenesis and tumour suppressing activity.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway polymorphisms as predictive markers of cetuximab toxicity in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a Spanish population.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between polymorphisms of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and toxicity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients treated with cetuximab.

Material And Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, observational pilot study which included 110 patients with histologically-confirmed human papillomavirus (HPV) negative HNSCC in locally advanced stages (III-IVA-B) and who were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy plus cetuximab between 2003 and 2013. Genetic analyses for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in genes EGFR, CCDN1, FCGR2A, FCGR3A and KRAS-LCS6 were performed though available allelic discrimination assay and/or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.

Epidemiological characteristics of a Spanish cohort of patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck: distribution of risk factors by tumor location.

Purpose: Head and neck cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease comprising a large number of tumors located in the cervicofacial area. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological characteristics of squamous-cell carcinomas of the head and neck in the Spanish population, and the distribution of risk factors based on tumor locations.

Methods/patients: A cohort of 459 patients (75 oral cavity, 167 oro-/hypopharyngeal and 217 laryngeal cancers) recruited in 19 hospitals participating in the Spanish head and neck cancer cooperative group were included over 3 years (2012-2014).