Panelsequenzierung in der Kopf-Hals-Onkologie am Beispiel von sinunasalen und Speicheldrüsenmalignomen

Abstract

BackgroundAs a result of the increasing implementation of innovative molecular technologies during the last two decades, the pathology of salivary gland carcinomas and sinonasal carcinomas has witnessed a tremendous revolution.AimWith the introduction of molecular tumor boards as a central opportunity exploring the possibility of actionable molecular targets in head and neck oncology, the question has been frequently raised as to which entities/patients might represent good or best candidates for OncoPanel sequencing in the context of these regularly implemented molecular tumor boards. The main aim of this review is to address this question considering recent developments and in context of the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification.Materials and methodsThis review is based on a selective literature search (PubMed) using the terms salivary gland malignancy, sinonasal carcinoma and targeted therapies as well as the authors’ own data and observations.Results and conclusionAs a result of several recent seminal studies on salivary and sinonasal carcinomas, some old concepts have been reconceptualized, some new concepts introduced, and some old, established entities became better defined molecularly. These achievements have influenced not only diagnostics (they enable a much refined, mostly molecular-based classification of many entities that were previously unclassified) but they also have a significant therapeutic impact (they enable better histology-tailored therapeutic stratification, at the same time some of them represent valuable biomarkers predicting response to targeted therapies).