Head and Neck Cancers
Background: Types: ~90% of head & neck cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). ~10% are salivary gland tumors, lymphomas, sarcomas, mucosal melanomas Risk factors: HPV infection (16, 18, 33, 35) HPV 16 is by far the dominant subtype (>80% of HPV-positive HNSCC) HPV 18 is the second most common but plays a much smaller role than in cervical cancer (~2.5% of all HNSCC) Smoking Alcohol use (synergistic with smoking) EBV esp in nasopharyngeal carcinoma Betel nut chewing Gene