REVIEW

Molecular biology of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

B Perez-Ordoñez¹, M Beauchemin² and R C K Jordan³

¹ Department of Pathology, University Health Network, and Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
² Department of Pathology, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Centre Hospitalier afflilié Universitaire de Québec, Quebec, Canada
³ Department of Orofacial Sciences and Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Bayardo Perez-Ordoñez
Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Hospital, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; bayardo.perez-ordonez{at}uhn.on.ca

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous but largely preventable disease with complex molecular abnormalities. It arises from a premalignant progenitor followed by outgrowth of clonal populations associated with cumulative genetic alterations and phenotypic progression to invasive malignancy. These genetic alterations result in inactivation of multiple tumour suppressor genes and activation of proto-oncogenes, including p16^ink4A, p53, cyclin D1, p14^ARF, FHIT, RASSF1A, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and Rb. Intramucosal migration and clonal expansion of transformed cells with formation of abnormal genetic fields appear to be responsible for local recurrences and development of second primary tumours.

Abbreviations: CIS, carcinoma in situ; HNSCC, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; HPV, human papillomavirus; LOH, loss of heterozygosity; SPT, second primary tumour

Keywords: HNSCC; head and neck carcinoma; papillomavirus; molecular pathology

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