Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

5.0K
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
5.0K
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

7.9K
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...
7.9K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

3.4K
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.4K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

5.9K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.9K
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

5.0K
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
5.0K
Arteries of the Head and Neck01:26

Arteries of the Head and Neck

1.5K
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...
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same authorSame journal

Exploring the Need for Plan Adaptation in Robustly Optimised Head and Neck Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy: A Dosimetric Perspective From Initial Institutional Experience.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2026
Same author

Avoiding Adjuvant Prophylactic Neck Irradiation in Lateralized Oral Cavity Cancer (APRON).

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2025
Same author

Patient Selection and Outcomes in Reirradiation for Head and Neck Cancers: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2025
Same author

GEC-ESTRO recommendations for head & neck cancer brachytherapy (interventional radiotherapy): 2nd update with focus on HDR and PDR.

Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology·2024
Same author

Contralateral Nodal Relapse in Well-lateralised Oral Cavity Cancers Treated Uniformly with Ipsilateral Surgery and Adjuvant Radiotherapy With or Without Concurrent Chemotherapy: a Retrospective Study.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2024
Same author

Function Preservation with Brachytherapy: Reviving the Art.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2023
Same journal

Concordance Between Planned and Delivered treatment for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated With Curative Intent: A Real-World Comparison of Under 70-year-olds With 70-year-olds and Over.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2026
Same journal

A Novel Technique for Pain Management to Deliver a Course of Palliative Radiotherapy.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2026
Same journal

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics are Associated with worse Survival After Radical Treatment for Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Multicentre Study.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2026
Same journal

Lifting the Lid on Best Practice in a Case of Oligometastatic Breast Cancer.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2026
Same journal

Standardisation of Imaging Surveillance for Patients With Metastatic Melanoma Stopping Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
06:11

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: April 20, 2018

9.9K

Function Preservation in Head and Neck Cancers.

A Budrukkar1, J L Guinot2, L Tagliaferri3

  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Parel, Mumbai, India.

Clinical Oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))
|February 27, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brachytherapy, a form of radiotherapy, offers significant functional and organ preservation benefits for head and neck cancers. Despite its advantages, this effective treatment remains underutilized, highlighting a need for increased adoption in cancer care.

Keywords:
Brachytherapyfunction preservationhead and neck cancersorgan preservation

More Related Videos

Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples
07:43

Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples

Published on: July 29, 2017

9.7K
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
07:29

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment

Published on: April 22, 2019

11.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
06:11

Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: April 20, 2018

9.9K
Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples
07:43

Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples

Published on: July 29, 2017

9.7K
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
07:29

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment

Published on: April 22, 2019

11.6K

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

  • Head and neck cancer treatments often impair quality of life due to functional deficits like speech and swallowing difficulties.
  • Management has shifted towards multimodal approaches to improve functional outcomes.
  • Brachytherapy, or interventional radiotherapy, delivers targeted high doses, improving local control and sparing organs at risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functional and organ-preservation benefits of brachytherapy in head and neck cancers.
  • To highlight the underutilization of brachytherapy despite its efficacy.
  • To advocate for increased use of brachytherapy in head and neck cancer management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of brachytherapy applications in various head and neck cancer sites (oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, etc.).
  • Discussion of brachytherapy's role in primary treatment, reirradiation, and perioperative settings.
  • Emphasis on the necessity of multidisciplinary cooperation for successful brachytherapy programs.

Main Results:

  • Brachytherapy improves local control rates and spares organs at risk due to its dose fall-off characteristics.
  • In oral cavity cancers, it preserves oral competence, tongue mobility, speech, swallowing, and hard palate function.
  • For oropharyngeal cancers, it reduces xerostomia, dysphagia, and aspiration; for nasopharyngeal, paranasal sinus, and nasal vestibule cancers, it preserves mucosal respiratory function.

Conclusions:

  • Brachytherapy provides significant functional and organ preservation benefits across various head and neck cancer sites.
  • Despite its advantages, brachytherapy is an underutilized technique in head and neck oncology.
  • There is a critical need to enhance the utilization of brachytherapy for improved patient outcomes in head and neck cancers.