Critical Issues in Head and Neck Oncology: Key Concepts from the Ninth THNO Meeting

Review by Patrick Bradley, Emeritus Professor Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist
Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK

This is the report of the proceeding of the Ninth Trends in Head and Neck Oncology (THNO) which took place in Malaga, Spain, November 2023, endorsed by the Three Major European Cancer Societies, the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and the local Spanish Head and Neck Society (TTCC). This is the Fifth Publication of the Annual Meeting published by Springer available in OPEN ACCESS (for free) or Hard Copy (by subscription).

The speakers, contributing some 26 chapters, are mainly European experts, with a number of colleagues from Canada. The volume is divided into four sections: Basic Science to Clinical Application, Primary Disease, and Recurrent / Metastatic Disease and Salivary Gland Cancer. The topics covered extensively, all are up-to-date, with tables, figures and graphs, with several figures in colour. The authors are international experts, both oncologists and surgeons.

Topics are typically summaries of where we have come from, where we are, and many speculate on likely future research or on what clinical needs are required to treat patients with primary disease and those with recurrent / metastatic head and neck cancer. Section one includes: the role of AI in oral malignant disorders, First results of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, and precision medicine beyond genomics. Section two covers sentinel nodes, partial laryngectomy, management of the internal carotid, improving quality of reconstructive surgery, innovations in head and neck surgery, as well as hypoxia, hyperthermia and biomarkers in head and neck cancer. Section three includes recurrent / metastatic disease, a review of “What have we gained in systemic therapy in 50 years”, the therapeutic potential of antibody-drug conjugates , intra-tumoral drug administration, and “What is the optimal local treatment in metastatic head and neck cancer?”.  Section four covers salivary gland cancer, including molecular characterisation of salivary gland cancer and its treatment implications, salivary duct carcinoma and strategies to improve outcome for recurrent / metastatic disease.

These volumes are a must reading for all medical professionals who attend the multidisciplinary head and neck clinic, to ensure that a modern and up-to-date discussion and treatment can be offered to patients with primary or recurrent /metastatic head and neck cancer. Remember that the volume can be downloaded for free from Springer Nature website.

Springer Link: Critical Issues in Head and Neck Oncology