Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
06:57

Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis

Published on: June 14, 2019

11.1K

Radiosensitization approaches for HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous carcinomas

Rüveyda Dok1, Marieke Bamps1, Mary Glorieux1

  • 1Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

International Journal of Cancer
|July 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Targeted DNA repair inhibition enhances radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Base excision repair inhibition benefits HPV-positive tumors, while other repair pathway inhibitors work for both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Genetics

Background:

  • Radiotherapy is a primary treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  • Tailoring radiotherapy by inhibiting DNA repair pathways shows promise for improving treatment outcomes.
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC exhibit differential responses to radiotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify optimal radiosensitization strategies for HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC.
  • To investigate the potential of targeted DNA repair inhibition in combination with radiotherapy.
  • To stratify HNSCC patients for personalized combination treatments.

Main Methods:

  • A targeted CRISPR-Cas9 screen was employed to identify effective radiosensitization targets.
  • Preclinical models, including patient-derived HNSCC xenografts, were used for validation.
  • Combination therapies involving radiotherapy and targeted DNA repair inhibitors were tested.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of base excision repair improved radiotherapy response in HPV-positive HNSCC, correlating with gene expression.
  • Inhibition of nonhomologous end-joining and mismatch repair demonstrated efficacy in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC.
  • Validated findings in preclinical models confirmed the differential and broad effects of targeting specific DNA repair pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Stratifying HNSCC patients based on HPV status is crucial for optimizing combination treatment strategies.
  • Targeted inhibition of specific DNA repair pathways offers a promising approach to enhance radiotherapy efficacy.
  • The study highlights the importance of understanding DNA repair mechanisms in HNSCC for developing personalized therapies.
Keywords:
CRISPR-cas9DDRHNSCCHPVradiotherapy

More Related Videos

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma10:26

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: March 11, 2014

28.1K
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

11.3K

Related Concept Videos

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...
3.1K
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...
5.4K
Positive, Negative, and Zero Work00:58

Positive, Negative, and Zero Work

Work is done on an object when energy is transferred to the object. In other words, work is done when a force acts on a body that undergoes a displacement from one position to another. By definition, the work done by a force is the integral of the force with respect to the displacement along its path. Forces can vary as a function of position, and displacements can occur along various paths between two points. The magnitude of a force multiplied by the cosine of the angle that the force makes...
22.0K
Positive and Negative Feedback Loops01:18

Positive and Negative Feedback Loops

Animal organs and organ systems constantly adjust to internal and external changes through a process called homeostasis ("steady state"). Examples of these changes include regulation of the level of glucose or calcium in the blood or internal responses to external temperatures. Homeostasis requires  maintaining an internal dynamic equilibrium:
24.9K
Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression02:35

Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression

Chromatin is the massive complex of DNA and proteins packaged inside the nucleus. The complexity of chromatin folding and how it is packaged inside the nucleus greatly influences  access to genetic information. Generally, the nucleus' periphery is considered transcriptionally repressive, while the cell's interior is considered a transcriptionally active area. 
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the...
24.7K
Muscles of the Anterior Neck01:26

Muscles of the Anterior Neck

The anterior neck muscles are the group of muscles covering the front part of the neck. These muscles are classified into three subgroups. The first one is the superficial muscles, the most visible muscles in the front of the neck. It includes the platysma and sternocleidomastoid. The second group is the suprahyoid muscles, located above the hyoid bone. This group comprises the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. Lastly, the infrahyoid muscles are found below the hyoid bone and...
4.6K