Full Project A: Epidemiology of Head & Neck Cancer
Co-Investigators
Adriana Baez, Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Pharmacology and Otolaryngology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sara Strom, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Head and neck cancer is an ideal model for evaluating biomarkers of risk and progression. These cancers are histologically homogeneous (squamous cell) and have well documented associations with tobacco and alcohol exposures. In addition, increasing evidence suggests an etiological role for the human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16). This project will evaluate epidemiological, clinical and molecular markers of disease progression and development of secondary tumors among Puerto Rican Hispanics attending the head and neck clinics of The University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine affiliated hospitals. The incidence of head and neck cancer is significantly higher in Puerto Rican hispanics than in non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics of the United States. We propose to conduct a follow-up study of 250 patients (200 new and 50 already accrued) diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Data collected, the infrastructure established and the partnership established will be used to plan a larger multi-center study.
Specific Aims
- To gather baseline and follow-up epidemiological and clinical data on 200 Puerto Rican patients with SCCHN
- To determine the frequency and variants of HPV16-positive tumors in SCCHN patients
- To measure and follow changes in the serum levels of HPV16 DNA in HPV16 positive SCCHN patients
- To correlate p53 gene mutations and HPV16 infection with clinical data of SCCHN Puerto Rican patients
- To genotype lymphocytic DNA from all samples for selected polymorphisms
- To analyze epidemiological and biomarker data as predictors of recurrence and development of second primary tumors