Objective: The appearance of local recurrences, distant metastases and second primary tumors limit the survival rate of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. The presence of genetic alterations at the resection margins is an indicator of inadequate excision and a predictor of local failure. Design: To receive insight into the genetic abnormalities in the mucosa surrounding oropharyngeal cancers, we performed a quantitative DNA measurement in the primary tumor and the surrounding areas. Results: We found a high level of DNA irregularity in primary tumors. The DNA irregularity decreased in specimens taken at a distance of 1 and 2 cm from the tumor margin. Conclusions: The genetically altered field is thought to determine the risk for recurrence of a second tumor. We therefore believe that the genetic analysis of tissue surrounding the tumor could become a feasible diagnostic procedure to determine the individual risk for local recurrence or second primary tumors.

Keywords:
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, DNA measurement, Genetic alterations
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© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
2005
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