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Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
Published on: June 7, 2019
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Update on primary head and neck mucosal melanoma
Fernando López1,2, Juan P Rodrigo1,2, Antonio Cardesa3
1Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Head & Neck
|September 23, 2014
Summary
Primary mucosal melanomas (PMMs) of the head and neck are rare cancers. While treatment involves surgery and radiotherapy, PMMs have a poor prognosis with high recurrence and metastasis rates.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Medical Oncology
Background:
- Primary mucosal melanomas (PMMs) are uncommon malignancies predominantly affecting the head and neck, particularly the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and oral cavity.
- Current treatment strategies involve radical surgical resection, often followed by adjuvant radiotherapy for high-risk cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of molecular biology, pathological diagnosis, and management of head and neck PMMs.
- To highlight the challenges and limitations in treating these rare cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of primary mucosal melanomas of the head and neck.
- Synthesis of information on epidemiology, pathology, treatment modalities, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Adjuvant radiotherapy may improve locoregional control but not overall survival.
- Elective neck dissection is recommended for oral PMM.
- Systemic therapy is reserved for metastatic or unresectable disease.
- Despite treatment advances, PMMs exhibit a poor prognosis with high rates of recurrence and distant metastasis (5-year DFS <20%).
Conclusions:
- Head and neck PMMs remain challenging due to their aggressive nature and unfavorable prognosis.
- Further research into multimodality therapy and molecular targets is needed to improve patient outcomes.
