Program Co-Leaders Randall Kramer, PhD Richard Jordan, DDS, PhD

The overall objective of the Head and Neck Oncology Program is to provide a focus and a stimulus for interdisciplinary scientific research aimed at reducing the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of head and neck cancer. The program also promotes collaboration with members of other basic science programs in studying the genetics and molecular carcinogenesis of head and neck cancer and in developing strategies for prevention and treatment.

The major focus of the program is to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of head and neck cancer progression and invasion in order to translate knowledge of basic biology into appropriate treatment modalities for invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Among the program's nearly 30 member-investigators, expertise in molecular genetics, tumor markers, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, positron emission tomography, and immunohistochemistry is being applied toward research into genetic abnormalities of head and neck cancer patients and predictive assays of treatment outcomes. Research laboratories associated with this work are associated with UCSF's Oral Cancer Research Center, funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

UCSF clinical resources around head and neck cancer include expertise in skull base surgery, plastic reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial prosthodontics, intraoperative radiotherapy, brachytherapy, radiosurgery, and hyperthermia. Clinicians within the School of Medicine (Departments of Otolaryngology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology and Pathology, and Divisions of Medical Oncology and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery); School of Dentistry (Departments of Stomatology and Restorative Dentistry); and School of Nursing (Department of Physiological Nursing) are collaborating in clinical research on the treatment and prevention of malignancies arising in the head and neck.

Current research initiatives of the Head and Neck Oncology Program include:

• establishing a prospective tissue bank of head and neck tumors focused on SCC to allow patient tracking and follow-up and as tissue source for program investigations;

• development of predictive assays -- including angiogenesis factors, EGF-R, epithelial adhesion receptors (integrins and cadherins), extracellular matrix proteins (laminins and tenascins), and degradative enzymes (metalloproteinases and hyaluronidases) -- to aid in early detection, prognosis, and individualized treatment selection;

• development of animal models for the study of carcinogenesis, progression, and invasion/metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; and

• biology of the normal oral-pharyngeal mucosa and changes that occur in preneoplastic lesions.