Prognostic Markers in Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in the world. Oral cancer accounts for nearly 50% of all newly diagnosed cancers in India. Oral cavity cancers are the most common cancers in males and the third most common in females in India. Majority of them are associated with tobacco chewing and usually preceded by premalignant lesions.On an average about 1% of oral lesions transform into cancer annually.15 to 20% of dysplastic lesions develop into carcinoma.One of the primary reasons for the poor prognosis is the lack of significant and unique molecular tumor markers to assess risk and prognosis. Identification of better prognostic factors is necessary to assist in more accurate lesional staging and prediction of prognosis.