[Prognostic factors for head and neck cancer]

Smoking, alcohol and chronic stimulation of the teeth are acknowledged as determinants of the risk for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (H&NSCC) through the loss or mutation of tumor suppressor genes. Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advance, the overall prognosis of H&NSCC remains poor except for laryngeal cancer. Although the prognosis of H&NSCC depends primarily on clinicopathological factors (ex. TNM), the predictive value has been limited for the identification of patients with high risk of disease relapse. Recently, the analysis of DNA, oncogen amplification, and protein expression have been used in attempts to identify a new prognostic indicator for the evaluation and selection of optimal cancer treatment. Here, I review the literature on prognostic factors including chromosomes, cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cytokines and adhesion molecules for patients with H&NSCC.