Detection and characterization of molecular alterations in tissue samples and body fluids from patients with head and neck tumors

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have as main risk factor the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, besides also being associated with infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV), especially in oropharyngeal tumors. They are commonly related to high rates of incidence, morbidity and mortality, presenting a great complexity in the management of the patients because of their etiological, molecular and clinical heterogeneity.Therefore, the identification of molecular markers that enable a better classification of these patients in according to their clinical evolution and that can be evaluated in body fluids, reducing the necessity of invasive diagnostic biopsies during the follow-up may improve the choice of clinical conduct regarding patients management. For this reason, the objective of this study is to characterize genetic and epigenetic alterations in specific genes important for carcinogenesis, tumor samples and body fluids of patients with HCSCC treated at the Head and Neck Surgery Department of the Barretos Cancer Hospital. It is expected with the results found, it will be possible to identify changes in these genes in the tumors and to evaluate them as markers of response to treatment and monitoring during the follow-up of patients, searching at a better choice of conduct in the decision of the treatment and the form of follow-up, allowing improvement in the quality of life and survival rates. (AU)