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Molecular diagnosis and genomics-based staging of head and neck cancer

Clinical problems in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients are locoregional recurrences (LR), delayed lymph node metastases,  distant metastases (DM) and second primary tumors  Genetic assays are run on HNSCC to investigate whether a certain profile is associated with the development of metastases. We also evaluate a molecular diagnostic approach that allows identification of patients with locoregional minimal residual cancer, patients with unresected high-risk precursor lesions and patients free of both, to guide postoperative clinical management.

Key papers

  • Tabor MP, Brakenhoff RH, Van Houten VM, Kummer, Snel M H. Snijders PJ, Snow GB, Leemans CR, Braakhuis BJM. Persistence of genetically altered fields in head and neck cancer patients: biological and clinical implications. Clin Cancer Res, 7: 1523-1532, 2001.
  • Nieuwenhuis EJ, Leemans CR, Kummer JA, Denkers F, Snow GB, Brakenhoff RH. Assessment and clinical significance of micrometastases in lymph nodes of head and neck cancer patients detected by E48 (Ly-6D) quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Lab. Invest., 83: 1233-1240, 2003.
  • Van Zeeburg HJT, Joenje H, Snijders PJF, Hermsen MAJA, Rooimans M, Bagby G, Soulier J, Gluckman E, Wennerberg J, Leemans CR, Brakenhoff RH. Generation and molecular characterization of head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines of Fanconi Anemia patients. Cancer Res, 65: 1271-1276, 2005 .
  • Braakhuis BJ, Brakenhoff RH, Leemans, CR. Second field tumors: a new opportunity for cancer prevention? Oncologist, 10: 493-500, 2005 .
  • Braakhuis BJ, Senft A, de Bree R, de Vries J, Ylstra B, Cloos J, Kuik DJ, Leemans CR, Brakenhoff RH. Expression profiling and prediction of distant metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Pathol, 59: 1254-60, 2006.