Skip to main content

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a devastating disease that affects some of the most basic daily functions such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing. Because of its visible nature, HNC is also associated with significant disfigurement. The combined effect of disability and disfigurement and the added toxicity of treatment greatly increase symptom burden and reduce physical, emotional, and social functioning. Since its inception, the Head and Neck Oncology Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center has pioneered multidisciplinary care with the main goal of improving survival and reducing suffering in patients with HNC. Over the past 60 years, significant advances have been made in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with HNC, resulting in improved disease control, survival, and organ preservation. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight some of the advances in treatment and improvements in outcome of patients with HNC treated in the Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Care Center at MD Anderson.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Siegel R, Ward E, Brawley O, Jemal A. The impact of eliminating socioeconomic and racial disparities on premature cancer deaths. CA Cancer J Clin. 2011;61(4):212–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cognetti DM, Weber RS, Lai SY. Head and neck cancer. Cancer. 2008;113(S7):1911–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ang KK, Harris J, Wheeler R, et al. Human papillomavirus and survival of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(1):24–35.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sturgis EM, Dahlstrom KR. HPV vaccination. Inaccurate assumptions about oropharyngeal cancer. BMJ. 2009;339:b4525.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lindberg R. Distribution of cervical lymph node metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. Cancer. 1972;29(6):1446–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Moreno MA, Skoracki RJ, Hanna EY, Hanasono MM. Microvascular free flap reconstruction versus palatal obturation for maxillectomy defects. Head Neck. 2010;32(7):860–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Yu P, Clayman GL, Walsh GL. Long-term outcomes of microsurgical reconstruction for large tracheal defects. Cancer. 2011;117(4):802–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hanna E, DeMonte F, Ibrahim S, Roberts D, Levine N, Kupferman M. Endoscopic resection of sinonasal cancers with and without craniotomy: oncologic results. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;135(12):1219–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Holsinger FC, Nussenbaum B, Nakayama M, et al. Current concepts and new horizons in conservation laryngeal surgery: an important part of multidisciplinary care. Head Neck. 2010;32(5):656–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Laccourreye L, Garcia D, Ménard M, Brasnu D, Laccourreye O, Holsinger FC. Horizontal supraglottic partial laryngectomy for selected squamous carcinoma of the vallecula. Head Neck. 2008;30(6):756–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Laccourreye O, Seccia V, Ménard M, Garcia D, Vacher C, Holsinger FC. Extended lateral pharyngotomy for selected squamous cell carcinomas of the lateral tongue base. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2009;118(6):428–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lewis CM, Chung WY, Holsinger FC. Feasibility and surgical approach of transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy without CO2 insufflation. Head Neck. 2010;32(1):121–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kupferman M, DeMonte F, Holsinger FC, Hanna E. Transantral robotic access to the pituitary gland. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;141(3):413–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hong WK, Shapshay SM, Bhutani R, et al. Induction chemotherapy in advanced squamous head and neck carcinoma with high-dose cis-platinum and bleomycin infusion. Cancer. 1979;44(1):19–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hong WK, O’Donoghue GM, Sheetz S, et al. Sequential response patterns to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: potential impact of treatment in advanced laryngeal cancer. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1985;201:191–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Induction chemotherapy plus radiation compared with surgery plus radiation in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 1991;324(24):1685–90.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Forastiere AA, Goepfert H, Maor M, et al. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2003;349(22):2091–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Milas L, Mason K, Hunter N, et al. In vivo enhancement of tumor radioresponse by C225 antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody. Clin Cancer Res. 2000;6(2):701–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ang KK, Berkey BA, Tu X, et al. Impact of epidermal growth factor receptor expression on survival and pattern of relapse in patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma. Cancer Res. 2002;62(24):7350–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bonner JA, Harari PM, Giralt J, et al. Radiotherapy plus cetuximab for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(6):567–78.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kies MS, Holsinger FC, Lee JJ, et al. Induction chemotherapy and cetuximab for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: results from a phase II prospective trial. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(1):8–14.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ehab Hanna .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Appendix

Appendix

See Figs. 25.8 through 25.27.

Fig. 25.8
figure 00258

Survival rates for patients with local (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with oral cavity primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.9
figure 00259

Survival rates for patients with regional (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with oral cavity primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.10
figure 002510

Survival rates for patients with distant (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with oral cavity primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.062, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.11
figure 002511

Survival rates for patients with local (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with oropharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.12
figure 002512

Survival rates for patients with regional (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with oropharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.13
figure 002513

Survival rates for patients with distant (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with oropharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.159, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with distant cancer of the head and neck with oropharyngeal primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, data from this period were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.14
figure 002514

Survival rates for patients with local (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with laryngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.645, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.15
figure 002515

Survival rates for patients with regional (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with laryngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.16
figure 002516

Survival rates for patients with distant (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with laryngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.027, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with distant cancer of the head and neck with laryngeal primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, data from this period were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.17
figure 002517

Survival rates for patients with local (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with paranasal sinus and nasal cavity primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.166, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with local cancer of the head and neck with paranasal sinus and nasal cavity primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, data from this period were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.18
figure 002518

Survival rates for patients with regional (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with paranasal sinus and nasal cavity primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.19
figure 002519

Survival rates for patients with distant (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with paranasal sinus and nasal cavity primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.001, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with distant cancer of the head and neck with paranasal sinus and nasal cavity primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954 and from 1955 to 1964, data from these periods were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.20
figure 002520

Overall rates for patients with cancer of the head and neck with nasopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.21
figure 002521

Survival rates for patients with local (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with nasopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.153, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with local cancer of the head and neck with nasopharyngeal primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, data from this period were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.22
figure 002522

Survival rates for patients with regional (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with nasopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.23
figure 002523

Survival rates for patients with distant (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with nasopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  <  0.0001, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with distant cancer of the head and neck with nasopharyngeal primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, data from this period were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.24
figure 002524

Overall rates for patients with cancer of the head and neck with hypopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.020, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.25
figure 002525

Survival rates for patients with local (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with hypopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.375, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with local cancer of the head and neck with hypopharyngeal primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, from 1955 to 1964, from 1965 to 1974, and from 1995 to 2004, data from these periods were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Fig. 25.26
figure 002526

Survival rates for patients with regional (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with hypopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.246, log-rank test for trend).

Fig. 25.27
figure 002527

Survival rates for patients with distant (SEER stage) cancer of the head and neck with hypopharyngeal primary sites (1944–2004) (P  =  0.358, log-rank test for trend). Because of the very small number of individuals with distant cancer of the head and neck with hypopharyngeal primary sites seen from 1944 to 1954, data from this period were excluded. N.A. not applicable.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hanna, E., Glisson, B., Ang, K., Weber, R. (2013). Head and Neck Cancer. In: Rodriguez, M., Walters, R., Burke, T. (eds) 60 Years of Survival Outcomes at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5197-6_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5197-6_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5196-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5197-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics