Development in translational medicine-related mechanisms of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Abstract

Head and neck cancer is currently one of the most common tumors worldwide. More than 90% of head and neck tumors are squamous cell carcinoma. Radiotherapy is particularly important in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Current domestic treatment is sole radiotherapy for early tumors, but comprehensive treatment is administered for late tumors. Translational medicine, which closely connects results from studies and clinical medicine, has emerged as a new research focus in recent years. This method is expected to provide basis for target and individual radiotherapy through the detection of target gene mutations, gene single nucleotide polymorphism classification, and mRNA gene expression in tumor tissues of patients. Thus, this method can be used to evidently improve the efficiency of clinical treatment of tumors. Key words: Head and neck neoplasms; Neoplasms, squamous cell; Radiotherapy; Translational medicine