Gene Profiling May Improve Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

NEW YORK JAN 10, 2005 (Reuters Health)
'The gene expression profile of metastatic head and neck cancer is distinct from that seen with forms that have not spread, a finding that could improve the treatment of this malignancy, Dutch researchers report.

For certain cancers, such as head and neck squamous carcinomas (HNSCCs), early detection of metastases to nearby lymph nodes is critical for appropriate therapy, senior author Dr. Frank C P. Holstege, from University Medical Center Utrecht, and colleagues note. Unfortunately, these metastases are often difficult to detect, resulting in inappropriate treatment for many individuals.

In the present study, reported in the February issue of Nature Genetics, Dr. Holstege's team describes the identification of gene expression profiles that correlate with HNSCC lymph node metastases.'