Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis
06:05

Modified Radical Neck Dissection for Cervical Metastasis

Published on: February 20, 2026

The impact of virus in N3 node dissection for head and neck cancer

Gian Luca Armas1, Chih-Ying Su, Chao-Cheng Huang

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung County, 833, Taiwan.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
|April 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Surgery for head and neck cancer with N3 lymph node metastasis shows improved survival for patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive tumors. These viral infections impact surgical outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Surgical Oncology

Background:

  • Head and neck cancers with N3 lymph node metastasis present significant treatment challenges.
  • The role of viral infections, specifically human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), in surgical outcomes for these patients requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of HPV and EBV presence on surgical outcomes in patients with operable N3 lymph node metastasis head and neck cancer.
  • To analyze survival rates based on primary tumor site and viral DNA detection.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 32 patients with operable N3 neck metastasis undergoing surgery (1987-2006).
  • Detection of HPV and EBV DNA in tumor cell nuclei.
  • Survival analysis incorporating viral status and primary tumor site.

Main Results:

  • Overall five-year survival rate was 40.7%; regional control rate was 55.8%.
  • Patients with unknown primary sites had significantly better survival (72.9%) compared to known primary sites (31.3%).
  • HPV or EBV positive tumors correlated with significantly higher five-year survival rates (77.8%) versus negative tumors (27.4%).

Conclusions:

  • Surgery combined with adjuvant therapy provides viable outcomes for operable N3 head and neck cancer.
  • The presence of HPV or EBV in tumors is associated with improved survival in this patient cohort.

More Related Videos

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma08:59

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: January 5, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Veins of Head and Neck01:19

Veins of Head and Neck

The blood drainage from the head and neck is primarily managed by three pairs of veins: the external jugular, internal jugular, and vertebral veins. The external jugular veins drain superficial scalp and face structures, passing over the sternocleidomastoid muscles to empty into the subclavian veins.
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Arteries of the Head and Neck01:26

Arteries of the Head and Neck

The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...