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Review
. 2021 Dec 18;398(10318):2289-2299.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01550-6. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Head and neck cancer

Mayur D Mody  1 , James W Rocco  2 , Sue S Yom  3 , Robert I Haddad  4 , Nabil F Saba  5
Affiliations
Review

Head and neck cancer

Mayur D Mody et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer worldwide and comprise of a diverse group of tumours affecting the upper aerodigestive tract. Although many different histologies exist, the most common is squamous cell carcinoma. Predominant risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and oncogenic viruses, including human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus. Head and neck malignancies remain challenging to treat, requiring a multidisciplinary approach, with surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy serving as key components of the treatment of locally advanced disease. Although many treatment principles overlap, treatment is generally site-specific and histology-specific. This Seminar outlines the current understanding of head and neck cancer and focuses on treatment principles, while also discussing future directions to improve the outcomes of patients with these malignancies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests SSY reports grants from Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, and BioMimetix, and personal fees from Springer and UpToDate, outside of the submitted work. RIH reports personal fees from Celgene, Merck, Eisai, Bristol Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Loxo Oncology, Genentech, Immunomic Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead Sciences, Vaccinex, EMD Serono, BioNTech, and Achilles Therapeutics, and grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Kura Oncology, AstraZeneca, and GlaxoSmithKline, during the conduct of the study. RIH also reports personal fees from UpToDate, Nanobiotix, and International Studies Association, outside of the submitted work. NFS reports personal fees from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Cue Biopharma, Kura Oncology, BioNTech, Springer, UpToDate, and Pfizer, outside of the submitted work. All other authors declare no competing interests.

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