About this Research Topic
The field of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) research is a critical area of study due to the prevalence of this cancer type worldwide. HNSCC presents in two distinct forms, HPV positive and HPV negative, each with its unique etiology. The standard treatment includes surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, but acquired resistance to these modalities remains a significant challenge. This resistance contributes to disease relapse and poor prognosis, with patients with recurrent or metastatic disease having limited treatment options and low 5-year survival rates. The presence of cancer stem cells or stem-like cells (CSCs) within the tumor bulk is considered a key factor in therapeutic resistance. These CSCs exhibit enhanced tumorigenicity and intrinsic drug resistance, leading to treatment failures in many cancers, including HNSCC. Therefore, there is a pressing need to identify molecular biomarkers associated with therapeutic resistance and understand their potential molecular mechanisms.
This research topic aims to explore the molecular mechanisms associated with therapeutic resistance in HNSCC and develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome this resistance. The identification of these mechanisms will aid in the creation of targeted therapeutics for HNSCC patients, improving treatment efficacy and prognosis. Additionally, the research topic seeks methodological innovations in identifying novel molecular biomarkers, including the development of humanized and patient-derived pre-clinical models to study the tumor microenvironment in the context of head and neck cancer.
To gather further insights into the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of HNSCC, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with therapy resistance in HPV positive and negative HNSCC.
• Molecular biomarkers associated with therapeutic resistance and disease relapse.
• Novel therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment resistance.
• Stratification of patients based on characteristics of tumor microenvironment or specific cell populations to monitor treatment efficacy and prognosis.
• Establishment of humanized and patient-derived models to study disease etiology and development of novel treatment strategies.
Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases, which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo), are out of the scope of this collection and will not be accepted as part of this research topic.
This research topic aims to explore the molecular mechanisms associated with therapeutic resistance in HNSCC and develop novel therapeutic strategies to overcome this resistance. The identification of these mechanisms will aid in the creation of targeted therapeutics for HNSCC patients, improving treatment efficacy and prognosis. Additionally, the research topic seeks methodological innovations in identifying novel molecular biomarkers, including the development of humanized and patient-derived pre-clinical models to study the tumor microenvironment in the context of head and neck cancer.
To gather further insights into the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of HNSCC, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with therapy resistance in HPV positive and negative HNSCC.
• Molecular biomarkers associated with therapeutic resistance and disease relapse.
• Novel therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment resistance.
• Stratification of patients based on characteristics of tumor microenvironment or specific cell populations to monitor treatment efficacy and prognosis.
• Establishment of humanized and patient-derived models to study disease etiology and development of novel treatment strategies.
Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases, which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo), are out of the scope of this collection and will not be accepted as part of this research topic.
Keywords: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Therapy resistance, Molecular Biomarker, Cancer stem cells, Novel therapeutics.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
