Cancer that arises in the head or neck region, including in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx [voice box], sinuses, and salivary glands, is categorized as head and neck cancer. Cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx is also known as throat cancer. In 2011, it is estimated that more than 52,000 new cases of head and neck cancer will be diagnosed in the United States; more than 39,000 of these will be cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx and approximately 12,740 will be cancer of the larynx. This year alone, it is estimated that 11,460 men and women will die from head and neck cancer. Research has demonstrated that 85 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. With early detection and appropriate treatment, these cancers can often be cured, yet not without a price. Patients' quality of life can be severely compromised when receiving radical surgery for removing the cancerous tissue in their head and neck region, which may affect their ability to eat, speak, or even breathe.

NFCR Scientist Waun Ki Hong, M.D., is a world renowned researcher in the treatment and prevention of head and neck cancer. Dr. Hong has developed treatment approaches that have enabled thousands of laryngeal cancer patients to avoid radical surgery. These novel approaches eradicate the cancer while preserving patients' ability to speak and swallow, allowing them to enjoy a better quality of life.

Dr. Hong's current research focuses on developing better prevention strategies for head and neck cancer. These programs have made significant advancements over the past few years.

Establishing a Cancer Risk Model

Research has shown that head and neck cancer patients with a history of smoking are at high risk for cancer recurrence or developing new head and neck cancer (second primary tumors or SPTs) after surgical removal of the tumors. Dr. Hong is currently leading his team of researchers in establishing a risk model for cancer recurrence or smoking-related SPTs in this high risk population. The risk model will help scientists to identify effective preventative agents to lower the patients' risk of developing this devastating disease again.

Identifying Effective Chemopreventive Approaches

Scientists have found that the molecular and cellular process that leads to cancer has typically been developing for years or even decades before a tumor forms. If this process can be interrupted by medications or natural substances (an approach known as chemoprevention), it may then be possible to prevent or delay cancer from occurring. In the 1990s, Dr. Hong and colleagues demonstrated, for the first time, that this approach could be successful. Their research showed that high-dose retinoids (relatives of vitamin A) could help prevent new cancers in patients with a history of head and neck cancer. Today, Dr. Hong's team is continuing their steady march in this highly impactful field. The team is now conducting two large, randomized clinical trials to identify effective approaches for reducing the incidence of head and neck cancer, particularly in high risk populations.

Having established a solid foundation for head and neck cancer research, Dr. Hong and his team will continue their efforts in conducting the multidisciplinary research programs aimed at cancer prevention. Their work holds promise for more effective preventative measurements, which may lead to significant improvements in patients' survival and quality of life.

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