Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2012 Aug;55(8):471-475. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.8.471.

Personalized Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers and the Role of Head and Neck Surgeons

• Hah JH

• KMID: 2277369
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.8.471

Abstract

Although patient and tumor characteristics remain essential for the diagnosis and management of the cancer, recent advances in molecular biology and genetics are making a paradigm shift in the methodology of personalized cancer therapy from clinical and pathological markers to gene mutations. Since cancers are basically genetic diseases and head and neck cancers are very complex, the treatment of the head and neck cancer should be benefited from the multidisciplinary team. As a key member of the team, the head and neck surgeon needs to know and update the concept of multidisciplinary team approach and the information on the personalized cancer therapy.

Keyword

Head neck; Mutation; Neoplasm; Personalized cancer therapy

MeSH Terms

Head
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Molecular Biology
Neck