Head and neck cancer

Causes

Alcohol and tobacco

Alcohol and tobacco use are major risk factors for head and neck cancer. 72% of head and neck cancer cases are caused by using both alcohol and tobacco. This rises to 89% when looking specifically at laryngeal cancer.

There is thought to be a dose-dependent relationship between alcohol use and the development of head and neck cancer, where higher rates of alcohol consumption contribute to an increased risk of developing head and neck cancer. Alcohol use following a diagnosis of head and neck cancer also contributes to other negative outcomes. These include physical effects such as an increased risk of developing a second primary cancer or other malignancies, cancer recurrence, and worse prognosis in addition to an increased chance of having a future feeding tube placed and osteoradionecrosis of the jaw. Negative social factors are also increased with sustained alcohol use after diagnosis including unemployment and work disability.

The way in which alcohol contributes to cancer development is not fully understood. It is thought to be related to permanent damage of DNA strands by a metabolite of alcohol called acetaldehyde. Other suggested mechanisms include nutritional deficiencies and genetic variations.

Tobacco smoking is one of the main risk factors for head and neck cancer. Cigarette smokers have a lifetime increased risk for head and neck cancer that is 5 to 25 times higher than the general population. The ex-smoker's risk of developing head and neck cancer begins to approach the risk in the general population 15 years after smoking cessation. In addition, people who smoke have a worse prognosis than those who have never smoked. Furthermore, people who continue to smoke after diagnosis of head and neck cancer have the highest probability of dying compared to those who have never smoked. This effect is seen in patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancer as well. It has also been demonstrated that passive smoking, both at work and at home, increases the risk of head and neck cancer.

A major carcinogenic compound in tobacco smoke is acrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile appears to indirectly cause DNA damage by increasing oxidative stress, leading to increased levels of 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and formamidopyrimidine in DNA. (see image). Both 8-oxo-dG and formamidopyrimidine are mutagenic. DNA glycosylase NEIL1 prevents mutagenesis by 8-oxo-dG and removes formamidopyrimidines from DNA.

Smokeless tobacco (including products where tobacco is chewed) is a cause of oral cancer. Increased risk of oral cancer caused by smokeless tobacco is present in countries such as the United States, but particularly prevalent in Southeast Asian countries where the use of smokeless tobacco is common. Smokeless tobacco is associated with a higher risk of developing head and neck cancer due to the presence of the tobacco-specific carcinogen N'-nitrosonornicotine.

Cigar and pipe smoking are also important risk factors for oral cancer. They have a dose dependent relationship with more consumption leading to higher chances of developing cancer. The use of electronic cigarettes may also lead to the development of head and neck cancers due to substances like propylene glycol, glycerol, nitrosamines, and metals contained therein, which can cause damage to the airways. Exposure to e-vapour has been shown to reduce cell viability and increase the rate of cell death via apoptosis or necrosis with or without nicotine. This area of study requires more research, however. Similarly, additional research is needed to understand how marijuana possibly promotes head and neck cancers. A 2019 meta-analysis did not conclude that marijuana was associated with head and neck cancer risk. Yet individuals with cannabis use disorder were more likely to be diagnosed with such cancers in a large study published 2024.

Diet

Many dietary nutrients are associated with cancer protection and its development. Generally, foods with a protective effect with respect to oral cancer demonstrate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects such as fruits, vegetables, curcumin and green tea. Conversely, pro-inflammatory food substances such as red meat, processed meat and fried food can increase the risk of developing head and neck cancer. An increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet is also related to a lower risk of cancer mortality and a reduced risk of developing multiple cancers including head and neck cancer. Elevated levels of nitrites in preserved meats and salted fish have been shown to increase the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. Overall, a poor nutritional intake (often associated with alcoholism) with subsequent vitamin deficiencies is a risk factor for head and neck cancer.

In terms of nutritional supplements, antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta-carotene might reduce the toxic effect of radiotherapy in people with head and neck cancer. Still, they can also increase recurrence rates, especially in smokers.

Betel nut

Betel nut chewing is associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancer. When chewed with additional tobacco in its preparation (like in gutka), there is an even higher risk, especially for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

Genetics

People who develop head and neck cancer may have a genetic predisposition for the condition. There are seven known genetic variations (loci) which specifically increase the chances of developing oral and pharyngeal cancer. Family history, that is, having a first-degree relative with head and neck cancer, is also a risk factor. In addition, genetic variations in pathways involved in alcohol metabolism (for example alcohol dehydrogenase) have been associated with an increased head and neck cancer risk.

Radiation

It is known that prior exposure to radiation of the head and neck is associated with an increased risk of cancer, particularly thyroid, salivary gland, and squamous cell carcinomas. However, there is a time delay of many years, and the overall risk remains low.

Infection

Human papillomavirus

Some head and neck cancers, and in particular oropharyngeal cancer, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and 70% of all head and neck cancer cases are related to HPV. Risk factors for HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer include multiple sexual partners, anal and oral sex and a weak immune system. HPV-related head and neck cancer (throat and mouth) can affect both females and males. Increasing HPV-cancer rates in males in the United Kingdom resulted in the HPV vaccine being offered to adolescent boys between 12 and 13 (previously only offered to girls between this age due to cervical cancer risks) and men under 45 who have sex with men.

Over 20 different high-risk HPV subtypes have been implicated in causing head and neck cancer. In particular, HPV-16 is responsible for up to 90% of oropharyngeal cancer in North America. Approximately 15–25% of head and neck cancers contain genomic DNA from HPV, and the association varies based on the site of the tumor. In the case of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, the highest distribution is in the tonsils, where HPV DNA is found in 45–67% of the cases, and it is less often in the hypopharynx (13–25%), and least often in the oral cavity (12–18%) and larynx (3–7%).

Positive HPV16 status is associated with an improved prognosis over HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer due to better response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

HPV can induce tumors by several mechanisms:

1. E6 and E7 oncogenic proteins.
2. Disruption of tumor suppressor genes.
3. High-level DNA amplifications, for example, oncogenes.
4. Generating alternative nonfunctional transcripts.
5. Interchromosomal rearrangements.
6. Distinct host genome methylation and expression patterns are produced even when the virus is not integrated into the host genome.

There are observed biological differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancer, for example, in terms of mutation patterns. In HPV-negative disease, genes frequently mutated include TP53, CDKN2A and PIK3CA. In HPV-positive disease, these genes are less frequently mutated, and the tumour suppressor gene p53 and pRb (protein retinoblastoma) are commonly inactivated by HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 respectively. In addition, viral infections such as HPV can cause aberrant DNA methylation during cancer development. HPV-positive head and neck cancers demonstrate higher levels of such DNA methylation compared to HPV-negative disease.

E6 sequesters p53 to promote p53 degradation, while E7 inhibits pRb. Degradation of p53 results in cells being unable to respond to checkpoint signals that are normally present to activate apoptosis when DNA damage is signalled. Loss of pRb leads to deregulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Both mechanisms therefore leave cell proliferation unchecked and increase the chance of carcinogenesis.

Epstein–Barr virus

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with nasopharyngeal cancer. Nasopharyngeal cancer caused by EBV commonly occurs in some countries of the Mediterranean and Asia, where EBV antibody titers can be measured to screen high-risk populations.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or laryngeal reflux disease can also be a major factor. Stomach acids that flows up through the esophagus can damage its lining and raise susceptibility to throat cancer.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

People after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at a higher risk for oral cancer. Post-HSCT oral cancer may have more aggressive behavior and a poorer prognosis when compared to oral cancer in non-HSCT patients. This effect is supposed to be due to continuous, lifelong immune suppression and chronic oral graft-versus-host disease.

Other risk factors

Several other risk factors have been identified in the development of head and neck cancer. These include occupational environmental carcinogen exposure such as asbestos, wood dust, mineral acid, sulfuric acid mists and metal dusts. In addition, weakened immune systems, age greater than 55 years, poor socioeconomic factors such as lower incomes and occupational status, and low body mass index (<18.5 kg/m2) are also risk factors. Poor oral hygiene and chronic oral cavity inflammation (for example secondary to chronic gum inflammation) are also linked to an increased head and neck cancer risk. The presence of leukoplakia, which is the appearance of white patches or spots in the mouth, can develop into cancer in about 1⁄3 of cases.

Diagnosis

A significant proportion of people with head and neck cancer will present to their physicians with an already advanced-stage disease. This can either be down to patient factors (delays in seeking medical attention), or physician factors (such as delays in referral from primary care, or non-diagnostic investigation results).

A person usually presents to the physician complaining of one or more of the typical symptoms. These symptoms may be site-specific (such as a laryngeal cancer causing hoarse voice), or not site-specific (earache can be caused by multiple types of head and neck cancers).

The physician will undertake a thorough history to determine the nature of the symptoms and the presence or absence of any risk factors. The physician will also ask about other illnesses, such as heart or lung diseases, as they may impact their fitness for potentially curative treatment. Clinical examination will involve examination of the neck for any masses, examining inside the mouth for any abnormalities and assessing the rest of the pharynx and larynx with a nasendoscope.

Further investigations will be directed by the symptoms discussed and any abnormalities identified during the exam.

Neck masses typically assessed with ultrasound and a fine-needle aspiration (FNA, a type of needle biopsy). Concerning lesions that are readily accessible (such as in the mouth) can be biopsied with a local anaesthetic. Lesions less readily available can be biopsied either with the patient awake or under a general anaesthetic, depending on local expertise and availability of specialist equipment.

The cancer will also need to be staged (accurately determine its size, association with nearby structures, and spread to distant sites). This is typically done by scanning the patient with a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and/or positron emission tomography (PET). Exactly which investigations are required will depend on a variety of factors such as the site of concern and the size of the tumour.

Some people will present with a neck lump containing cancer cells (identified by FNA) that have spread from elsewhere, but with no identifiable primary site on initial assessment. In such cases, people will undergo additional testing to attempt to find the initial site of cancer, as this has significant implications for their treatment. These patients undergo MRI scanning, PET-CT, and then panendoscopy and biopsies of any abnormal areas. If the scans and panendoscopy still do not identify a primary site for the cancer, affected people will undergo a bilateral tonsillectomy and tongue base mucosectomy (as these are the most common subsites of cancer that spread to the neck). This procedure can be done with or without robotic assistance.

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, a multidisciplinary discussion of the optimal treatment strategy will be undertaken between the radiation oncologist, surgical oncologist, and medical oncologist. A histopathologist and a radiologist will also be present to discuss the biopsy and imaging findings. Most (90%) cancers of the head and neck are squamous cell-derived, termed "head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinomas".

Histopathology

Throat cancers are classified according to their histology or cell structure and are commonly referred to by their location in the oral cavity and neck. This is because where the cancer appears in the throat affects the prognosis; some throat cancers are more aggressive than others, depending on their location. The stage at which the cancer is diagnosed is also a critical factor in the prognosis of throat cancer. Treatment guidelines recommend routine testing for the presence of HPV for all oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tumors. Accurate prognostic stratification as well as segmentation of Head-and-Neck Squamous-Cell-Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients can be an important clinical reference when designing therapeutic strategies. Study developed a deep learning framework combining PET/CT fusion imaging with Hybrid Machine Learning Systems (HMLS) for automated tumor segmentation and recurrence-free survival prediction in HNSCC patients. They set to enable automated segmentation of tumors and prediction of recurrence-free survival (RFS) using advanced deep learning techniques and Hybrid Machine Learning Systems (HMLSs).

Squamous-cell carcinoma

Squamous-cell carcinoma is a cancer of the squamous cell, a kind of epithelial cell found in both the skin and mucous membranes. It accounts for over 90% of all head and neck cancers, including more than 90% of throat cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is most likely to appear in males over 40 years of age with a history of heavy alcohol use coupled with smoking.

All squamous cell carcinomas arising from the oropharynx, and all neck nodes metastases of unknown primary should undergo testing for HPV status. This is essential to adequately stage the tumour and adequately plan treatment. Due to the different biology of HPV positive and HPV-negative cancers, differentiating HPV status is also important for ongoing research to determine the best treatments.

Nasopharyngeal carcinomas, or neck node metastases possibly arising from the nasopharynx, will also be tested for Epstein-Barr virus.

The tumor marker Cyfra 21-1 may be useful in diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a cancer of the epithelial tissue that has glandular characteristics. Several head and neck cancers are adenocarcinomas (either of intestinal or non-intestinal cell types).

Prevention

Avoidance of risk factors (such as smoking and alcohol) is the single most effective form of prevention.

Regular dental examinations may identify pre-cancerous lesions in the oral cavity. While screening in the general population does not appear to be useful, screening high-risk groups by examination of the throat might be useful. Head and neck cancer is often curable if it is diagnosed early; however, outcomes are typically poor if it is diagnosed late.

When diagnosed early, oral, head, and neck cancers can be treated more easily, and the chances of survival increase tremendously. The HPV vaccine helps to prevent the development of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.

Management

Improvements in diagnosis and local management, as well as targeted therapy, have led to improvements in quality of life and survival for people with head and neck cancer.

After a histologic diagnosis has been established and tumor extent determined, such as with the use of PET-CT, the selection of appropriate treatment for a specific cancer depends on a complex array of variables, including tumor site, relative morbidity of various treatment options, concomitant health problems, social and logistic factors, previous primary tumors, and the person's preference. Treatment planning generally requires a multidisciplinary approach involving specialist surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.

Surgical resection and radiation therapy are the mainstays of treatment for most head and neck cancers and remain the standard of care in most cases. For small primary cancers without regional metastases (stage I or II), wide surgical excision alone or curative radiation therapy alone is used. For more extensive primary tumors or those with regional metastases (stage III or IV), planned combinations of pre- or postoperative radiation and complete surgical excision are generally used. More recently, as historical survival and control rates have been recognized as unsatisfactory, there has been an emphasis on the use of various induction or concomitant chemotherapy regimens.

Surgery

Surgery is frequently used as a treatment for most types of head and neck cancer. Usually, the goal is to remove the cancerous cells entirely. This can be particularly tricky if the cancer is near the larynx and can result in the person being unable to speak. Surgery is also commonly used to resect (remove) some or all of the cervical lymph nodes to prevent further spread of the disease. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is gaining popularity worldwide as the technology and training become more accessible. It now has an established role in the treatment of early-stage oropharyngeal cancer. There is also a growing trend worldwide towards TORS for the surgical treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumours.

CO₂ laser surgery is also another form of treatment. Transoral laser microsurgery allows surgeons to remove tumors from the voice box with no external incisions. It also allows access to tumors that are not reachable with robotic surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon and pathologist work together to assess the adequacy of excision ("margin status"), minimizing the amount of normal tissue removed or damaged. This technique helps give the person as much speech and swallowing function as possible after surgery.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the most common form of treatment. There are different forms of radiation therapy, including 3D conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, particle beam therapy, and brachytherapy, which are commonly used in the treatment of cancers of the head and neck. Most people with head and neck cancer who are treated in the United States and Europe are treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy using high-energy photons. At higher doses, head and neck radiation is associated with thyroid dysfunction and pituitary axis dysfunction. Radiation therapy for head and neck cancers can also cause acute skin reactions of varying severity, which can be treated and managed with topically applied creams or specialist films.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for throat cancer is not generally used to cure the cancer as such. Instead, it is used to provide an inhospitable environment for metastases so that they will not establish themselves in other parts of the body. Typical chemotherapy agents are a combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin. Cetuximab is also used in the treatment of throat cancer.

Docetaxel-based chemotherapy has shown a very good response in locally advanced head and neck cancer. Docetaxel is the only taxane approved by the FDA for head and neck cancer, in combination with cisplatin and fluorouracil for the induction treatment of inoperable, locally advanced head and neck cancer.

While not specifically a chemotherapy, amifostine is often administered intravenously by a chemotherapy clinic prior to IMRT radiotherapy sessions. Amifostine protects the gums and salivary glands from the effects of radiation.

There is no evidence that erythropoietin should be routinely given with radiotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy may have promise for treating mucosal dysplasia and small head and neck tumors. Amphinex is showing good results in early clinical trials for the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy, according to the National Cancer Institute, is "a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances, such as monoclonal antibodies, to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells." Some targeted therapies used in head and neck cancers include cetuximab, bevacizumab, and erlotinib.

Cetuximab is used for treating people with advanced-stage cancer who cannot be treated with conventional chemotherapy (cisplatin). However, cetuximab's efficacy is still under investigation by researchers.

Gendicine is a gene therapy that employs an adenovirus to deliver the tumor suppressor gene p53 to cells. It was approved in China in 2003 for the treatment of head and neck cancer.

The mutational profiles of HPV+ and HPV- head and neck cancer have been reported, further demonstrating that they are fundamentally distinct diseases.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that activates the immune system to fight cancer. One type of immunotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, binds to and blocks inhibitory signals on immune cells to release their anti-cancer activities.

In 2016, the FDA granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab for the treatment of people with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Later that year, the FDA approved nivolumab for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. In 2019, the FDA approved pembrolizumab for the first-line treatment of metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck cancer.

Treatment side effects

Depending on the treatment used, people with head and neck cancer may experience various symptoms and treatment side effects depending on the type and site of the treatment used.

Difficulties with eating and drinking

Even before treatment, tumours themselves may interfere with a person's ability to eat and drink normally and these may be among the early presenting symptoms. Some treatments can also lead to difficulty with eating and drinking (dysphagia). This might lead to feelings of food sticking in the throat, food and drink going down the wrong way (aspiration), taking a long time to chew and swallow food, a change in taste or appetite, and overall changes in enjoyment of eating and drinking.

Surgery results in changes to anatomy, altering the function and coordination of key structures involved in eating and drinking. Surgery can also result in damage or bruising to nerves needed to move and provide sensation to the muscles involved in swallowing. Following surgery, a person may experience difficulties with chewing, swallowing, and jaw opening. Pain and oedema can be present after surgery, particularly in the early postoperative period. The severity of swallowing issues after surgery depends on the location of the tumour and the volume of tissue removed. Factors such as age, other pre-existing illnesses (comorbidity), and having any earlier problems with swallowing will also impact swallow outcomes. Transoral surgical techniques remove tumours with minimal disruption to normal tissue. This is an established technique in the management of oropharyngeal cancer to improve long-term swallow outcomes. However, difficulties with swallowing are common in the early period following the surgery. Surgery may involve substituting some anatomy with tissue from other areas of the body (soft tissue or bone flap reconstruction). This can lead to changes in sensation and function of this new tissue.

Radiotherapy can lead to inflammation of the mouth or throat (mucositis), dry mouth (xerostomia), reduced motion of the jaw (trismus), osteoradionecrosis, changes to dentition, fatigue, oedema fibrosis, atrophy. These changes can impair the movement of key swallowing structures, but their severity depends on the dose and site of the radiotherapy. Recent advancements in the way radiotherapy is planned and delivered aim to reduce some of these side effects.

Communication

Speech may become slurred, hard to understand, or the voice may become hoarse or weak. The impact on communication depends on the site and size of the tumour and the treatments used. The tumour itself may result in changes to the voice, which may be among the presenting signs and symptoms.

Surgery can lead to changes in the shape and size of the oral structures (tongue, lips, palate, dental extractions), which can impact how they move to produce speech sounds.

Surgery may result in changes to anatomy or neurology, such as the removal of a structure or damage to nerves. For example, removal of the larynx (voice box) in a total laryngectomy or damage to the vagus nerve during tumour removal leading to vocal fold paresis or palsy.

If surgery affects the upper jaw bone, then this can also affect the development and resonance of speech sounds, resulting in hypernasal speech and difficulty in making certain sounds that are dependent on the velopharyngeal competence. Dental and speech prosthetics can sometimes be provided to compensate for these changes; there is no effective means to restore normal (pre-surgical) speech sounds.

Head and neck cancer treatments can lead to changes in the sound of the voice. The impact of surgery on the voice can depend on the size of the resection and the subsequent amount of scarring on the vocal folds. Radiotherapy treatment may improve the voice or worsen it, depending on pre-treatment voice function, and the site and dose treatment. This may be short- or long-term, depending on the treatment plan.

Upper airway

People may experience changes to their breathing from the tumour itself or from side effects of head and neck cancer treatments. Both surgery and radiotherapy can cause changes in breathing in either the short- or long-term, e.g., through a tracheostomy tube or stoma in the neck (laryngectomy). The extent of these changes is often dependent on a range of factors, including the type of surgery, the position of the tumour, and the individual's tissue response to radiotherapy.

Shoulder dysfunction

Surgical neck dissection is the most common component of treatment in both new cancers and in cancers previously treated but with residual neck disease. Shoulder dysfunction is by far the most common side effect after neck dissection. Its symptoms can include shoulder pain, decreased range of motion, and muscle loss. The prevalence of shoulder dysfunction varies based on the type of neck dissection and the diagnostic tools used. It can occur in as many as 50 to 100% of cases. Over 30% of people still experience shoulder pain and reduced function 12 months after surgery. Problems with shoulder and neck movement can reduce people's abilities to return to work, and nearly half of people with shoulder disability cease working.

Treatment for shoulder dysfunction, whether pain, weakness, or functional difficulties, is commonly provided through physiotherapy. Physiotherapists assess the specific symptoms and then prescribe treatments which are often exercise-based, tailored to individual problems

Nutrition and hydration

People may find it hard to eat and drink enough due to the side effects of treatments. These may be associated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. This can increase their risk of malnutrition. People with head and neck cancer need to be screened for malnutrition risk on diagnosis and regularly throughout their treatment and referred to a dietitian. Dietary counselling or oral nutritional supplements may be required to treat and manage any malnutrition. Some people might be recommended to have enteral feeding, a method that adds nutrients directly into a person's stomach using a nasogastric feeding tube or a gastrostomy tube. The type of tube used and when it is placed is decided on a case-by-case basis with guidance from the treating team. However, for people undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy, it is not yet known what the most effective method and timing of enteral feeding is for staying nourished during treatment.

Chemotherapy can lead to taste changes, nausea and vomiting. It can deprive the body of vital fluids (although these may be obtained intravenously if necessary). Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can lead to impaired kidney function, electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal trauma. It also causes significant psychological distress.

Rehabilitation and long-term care

Oral rehabilitation

Oral health, dental pain, chewing, and swallowing ability remain common long-term concerns of people who have undergone treatment for head and neck cancer, particularly those who have received radiotherapy to the salivary glands and oral structures.

People are at increased risk of long-term xerostomia (dry mouth), thicker saliva, dental pain, dental diseases, and osteoradionecrosis following head and neck cancer treatment involving radiotherapy. Long-term care necessitates adherence to preventative oral hygiene protocols including high fluoride toothpastes, fluoride varnish, and more frequent dental examinations.

The oral rehabilitation process can vary significantly. In some cases, it is possible to provide individuals with dental prostheses within weeks, this can also take several years.

All people with head and neck cancer must receive a specialist dental assessment (restorative dentistry) before the start of treatment, particularly if radiotherapy is planned. The purpose of this assessment is to facilitate an improvement in oral health before the start of cancer therapies and thus minimise the risk of long-term side effects such as osteoradionecrosis.

Speech, voice, and swallow function

Rehabilitation targeting changes to speech, voice, and swallowing aims to optimise function and help manage long-term effects. Rehabilitation can consist of therapy exercises and compensation strategies. Therapy exercises may involve muscle strengthening exercises, e.g., for the tongue or larynx (voice box), while compensation strategies can involve texture modification or changes to head postures when swallowing. Swallowing rehabilitation may integrate several therapies using training devices, proactive therapies, and intensive bootcamp programmes.

Early intervention promoting mobilisation of the swallowing muscles is likely to improve effectiveness.

Radiation-induced side effects

Radiotherapy can cause delayed tissue fibrosis, lower cranial neuropathy and osteoradionecrosis of bones included in the fields of radiation. These late changes affect the functions of swallowing, speech, voice, breathing, and mouth-opening (trismus), often necessitating placement of a feeding tube and/or tracheostomy. Symptoms usually present gradually, years after treatment, though there is no agreed-upon definition.

Several risk factors have been identified (e.g. tumour site, gender, tumour stage), but the evidence base is conflicting. Reducing the radiotherapy dose to structures critical to swallowing function may improve function in the longer-term. Treatment options for late radiation-associated dysphagia are limited. Some, more severely affected patients, choose to undergo a functional laryngectomy which can improve how they feel about swallowing and communication and can facilitate tracheosophageal speech and removal of feeding tubes, though outcomes are variable.

Psychosocial

Programs to support the emotional and social well-being of people who have been diagnosed with head and neck cancer may be offered. There is no clear evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions or any particular type of psychosocial program or length of time that is most helpful for those with head and neck cancer.

Prognosis

Although early-stage head and neck cancers (especially laryngeal and oral cavity) have high cure rates, up to 50% of people with head and neck cancer present with advanced disease. Cure rates decrease in locally advanced cases, whose probability of cure is inversely related to tumor size and even more so to the extent of regional node involvement. HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer has been shown to respond better to chemoradiation and, subsequently, have a better prognosis compared to non-associated HPV head and neck cancer.

Consensus panels in America (AJCC) and Europe (UICC) have established staging systems for head and neck cancers. These staging systems attempt to standardize clinical trial criteria for research studies and define prognostic categories of disease. Head and neck cancers are staged according to the TNM classification system, where T is the size and configuration of the tumor, N is the presence or absence of lymph node metastases, and M is the presence or absence of distant metastases. The T, N, and M characteristics are combined to produce a "stage" of the cancer, from I to IVB.

Disease recurrence

Despite ongoing advances in the treatment of primary disease, recurrence rates remain high. Regardless of site of disease, the overall recurrence rate for advanced-stage head and neck cancer is up to 50%. For recurrent oropharyngeal cancer, recurrence rates in the original site of the disease vary from 9% for HPV-positive disease to 26% for HPV- negative disease.

Treatments for recurrent disease include potentially curative surgery, either open or transoral robotic or re-irradiation, which can be associated with significant changes to speech and swallowing function. Non curative treatment options include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and other emerging therapies undergoing scientific investigation. Treatment decision making in recurrent head and neck cancer is often challenging. Careful pre-treatment counselling and an evaluation of the individual's values and goals should be at the centre of the treatment decision-making.

Mental health

Cancer in the head or neck may impact a person's mental well-being and can sometimes lead to social isolation. This largely results from a decreased ability or inability to eat, speak, or effectively communicate. Physical appearance is often altered by the cancer itself and/or as a consequence of treatment side effects. Psychological distress may occur, and feelings such as uncertainty and fear may arise. Some people may also have a changed physical appearance, differences in swallowing or breathing, and residual pain to manage.

Caregiver stress

Caregivers for people with head and neck cancer show higher rates of caregiver stress and poorer mental health compared to both the general population and those caring for people with different diseases. Caregivers show increased rates of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and physical health decline. Caregivers frequently report loss associated with their caring role, including loss of role, certainty, security, finances, intimacy and enjoyment from social activities.

The high symptom burden patients experience necessitates complex caregiver roles, often requiring hospital staff training, which caregivers can find distressing when asked to do so for the first time. It is becoming increasingly apparent that caregivers (most often spouses, children, or close family members) might not be adequately informed about, prepared for, or trained for the tasks and roles they will encounter during the treatment and recovery phases of this unique patient population, which spans both technical and emotional support. Examples of technically difficult caregiver duties include tube feeding, oral suctioning, wound maintenance, medication delivery, safe tube feeding, and troubleshooting home medical equipment. If the cancer affects the mouth or larynx, caregivers must also find a way to communicate effectively among themselves and with their healthcare team. This is in addition to providing emotional support for the person undergoing cancer therapy.

Of note, caregivers who report lower quality of life demonstrate increased burden and fatigue that extend beyond the treatment phase. Factors promoting coping and resilience among caregivers include access to information and support, supportive mechanisms to aid transition from treatment to recovery, and personal attributes such as optimism and perspective.

Fear of recurrence

Fear of recurrence can occur in up to 72% of cancer survivors in general. Fear of recurrence can remain with head and neck cancer survivors in the long-term, and it has been highlighted as a frequently reported unmet need and a potential cause for high levels of anxiety.

Emotional distress

People with head and neck cancer are at increased risk of emotional distress. Around a fifth of people report symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress, and more than a third report general emotional distress or insomnia symptoms. People undergoing primary chemoradiotherapy experience significantly higher anxiety than those undergoing surgery, and people who smoke or have an advanced stage of tumour experience increased distress.

Out of 100,000 individuals with head and neck cancer, around 160 commit suicide per year.

Those who have depression or depressive symptoms before the start of their treatment might have worse rates of overall survival.

Others

Like any cancer, metastasis affects many areas of the body as the cancer spreads from cell to cell and organ to organ. For example, if it spreads to the bone marrow, it will prevent the body from producing enough red blood cells and affect the proper functioning of the white blood cells and the body's immune system; spreading to the circulatory system will prevent oxygen from being transported to all the cells of the body; and throat cancer can throw the nervous system into chaos, making it unable to regulate and control the body properly.

Epidemiology

Globally, head and neck cancer accounts for 650,000 new cases of cancer and 330,000 deaths annually on average. In 2018, it was the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with 890,000 new cases documented and 450,000 people dying from the disease. The risk of developing head and neck cancer increases with age, especially after 50 years. Most people who do so are between 50 and 70 years old.

In North America and Europe, the tumors usually arise from the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx. Nasopharyngeal cancer is more common in the Mediterranean countries and the Far East. In Southeast China and Taiwan, head and neck cancer, specifically nasopharyngeal cancer, is the most common cause of death in young men.

United States

In the United States, head and neck cancer makes up 3% of all cancer cases (averaging 53,000 new diagnoses per year) and 1.5% of cancer deaths. The 2017 worldwide figure cites head and neck cancers as representing 5.3% of all cancers (not including non-melanoma skin cancers).

Head and neck cancer secondary to chronic alcohol or tobacco use has been steadily declining as less of the population chronically smoke tobacco.

HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is rising, particularly in younger people in westernized nations, which is thought to be reflective of changes in oral sexual practices, specifically with regard to the number of oral sexual partners. This increase since the 1970s has mostly affected wealthier nations and male populations. This is due to evidence suggesting that transmission rates of HPV from women to men are higher than from men to women, as women often have a higher immune response to infection. In the United States, the incidence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer has overtaken HPV-positive cervical cancer as the leading HPV related cancer type.

• In 2008, there were 22,900 cases of oral cavity cancer, 12,250 cases of laryngeal cancer, and 12,410 cases of pharyngeal cancer in the United States.
• In 2002, 7,400 Americans were projected to die of these cancers.
• More than 70% of throat cancers are at an advanced stage when discovered.
• Men are 89% more likely than women to be diagnosed with these cancers and are almost twice as likely to die of them.
• African Americans are disproportionately affected by head and neck cancer, with younger ages of incidence, increased mortality, and more advanced disease at presentation. Laryngeal cancer incidence is higher in African Americans relative to white, Asian, and Hispanic populations. There is a lower survival rate for similar tumor states in African Americans with head and neck cancer.

Research

Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors is being investigated in head and neck cancers.