Head and Neck Cancer Mukund Seshadri DDS, PhD Mukund.Seshadri@roswellpark.org 716-845- 1552
Overview Epidemiology Etiology and Risk factors Disease Biology Management Conventional Novel Targeted Therapies Treatment- related complications Impact of HPV
Anatomy Head and Neck Cancers rmgmed.com Sixth most common cancer world wide Annual global incidence ~600,000 cases Oral cavity (lips, tongue, palate, floor of the mouth, buccal mucosa) Pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx) Larynx Salivary glands Sinuses Ear (external auditory canal) Biologically heterogeneous group of cancers
Epidemiology Incidence of ~54,000 in the US (~3% of all cancers) ~12,000 deaths annually in the US Diagnosed more often in people over 50 but Epidemiology of the disease is changing Siegel et al, 2014
Epidemiology High incidence areas of central Asia and the Indian sub- continent Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics have high mortality (low socio- economic status, limited treatment facilities) Papua New Guinea and surrounding melanesian islands of the Western Pacific are in the top quintile both in incidence and mortality Johnson and Amarasinghe, J Bernier Head and Neck Cancer: Multimodality Management
Etiology and Risk factors Tobacco Single most important risk factor Cigarettes, pipe, smokeless tobacco (chew, snuff, betel quid) Increased risk of HNC in smokers (5-20 fold> non- smokers) http://screening.iarc.fr Warnakulasuriya et al. 2005
Alcohol Etiology and Risk factors Second most common risk factor Association is stronger for pharyngeal cancer Tobacco and alcohol - synergistic effects on risk of HNC ACS Atlas of the Head and Neck Jatin Shah
Viral infection Etiology and Risk factors EBV nasopharyngeal carcinoma HIV HPV Occupational exposure Radiation Diet Genetic factors Scully & Bagan, 2009
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Oropharynx Increasing incidence in US, Canada, Australia and Japan A developed country phenomenon Rising incidence in young males Reason: Change in sexual behaviors Male predominence Efficiency of transmission through oral sex? Marur et al., 2010 Chaturvedi et al., NCI
Head and Neck Carcinogenesis Forastiere et al., 2001
Head and Neck Carcinogenesis Field cancerization and local relapse Presence of one or more mucosal areas consisting of epithelial cells that have cancer- associated genetic or epigenetic alterations Leemans et al., 2011
Premalignant lesions Premalignant lesions - Leukoplakia - Erythroplakia - Lichenoid lesions - Submucous fibrosis Erythroplakias have increased risk of progression to carcinoma Immediate need for diagnostic tools to identify dysplasia in relation to progression Hunter et al., 2005
Pathology of Head and Neck Cancers Carcinoma in situ ACS Atlas of the Head and Neck Jatin Shah
Pathology of Head and Neck Cancers Majority (~75%) are squamous cell carcinomas Moderately diff SCC ACS Atlas of the Head and Neck Jatin Shah
Pathology of Head and Neck Cancers Salivary glands ACS Atlas of the Head and Neck Jatin Shah
Perineural Invasion in SGC Cancer cell invasion in, around and through nerves or the finding of tumor cells within any of the the layers (epineurium, perineurium, endoneurium) of the nerve sheath. ACCs and SDCs exhibit high degree of PNI; SCCs also exhibit PNI frequently. Indicator of aggressive behavior and independent prognostic factor in ACC Johnston et al 2012
Clinical evaluation Evaluation of suspicious oral lesions Williams et al 2008
Clinical evaluation Appearances of oral premalignant and early cancer smooth, white, homogeneous red, diffuse, granular lesion; diffuse, red ulcerated lesion diffuse, raised,speckled, indurated lesion Williams et al 2008
Autofluorescence imaging Clinical evaluation Visualization of a diffuse, nodular erythro- leukoplakia at the right lateral ventral tongue Moderate-severe dysplasia Williams et al 2008
Diagnosis/Staging of HNC Biopsy Essential for diagnosis of malignancy FNA nodal disease, parotid, thyroid lesions, TNM classification Combination of histopathologic/radiologic assessment Standardized classification system
TNM Classification T tumor size, location, extent N lymph node involvement (size, side) M metastases American Joint Committee on Cancer, Cancer Staging
Diagnosis/Staging of HNC Lymph node distribution of the head and neck region Critical component of the clinical examination Marur et al, Mayo Clin Proc 2008
Staging of HNC Describes the severity of an individual's cancer based on the magnitude of the original (primary) tumor as well as on the extent cancer has spread in the body Clinical Staging - based on physical examination, imaging tests, and biopsies. Pathologic Staging - Combines the results of clinical staging with pathologic examination of surgical tissue Post- Therapy or Post- Neoadjuvant Therapy Staging - determines how much cancer remains after a patient is first treated with systemic (chemotherapy or hormone therapy) and/or radiation therapy prior to their surgery or where no surgery is performed. This can be assessed by clinical staging guidelines and/ or pathologic staging guidelines. Restaging is used to determine the extent of the disease if a cancer comes back after treatment. Restaging helps determine the and the best treatment options for cancer that has returned. American Joint Committee on Cancer, Cancer Staging
Staging of HNC TNM staging system allows clinicians to categorize tumors of the head and neck region in a specific manner to assist with the assessment of disease status, prognosis, and management. Deschler and Day, TNM Staging of Head and Neck Cancer
Radiologic assessment Plain X- ray Panorex bone invasion - mandible Chest small lesions CT bone involvement, cystic nodal metastasis (CT with contrast) MRI soft tissue (extent of tumor, bone invasion, vascular involvement) PET - metastatic survey
Management of Head and Neck Cancer NCCN Guidelines 2011
Management of Head and Neck Cancer SUPPORTIVE SERVICES NCCN Guidelines 2011
Primary Therapy Decision Making Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation (+/- Targeted Therapy) Patient status Age, debility, pulmonary status, medical co- morbidities psychological status, motivation, family support, rehab potential Primary Tumor Anatomic site, tumor volume, extent (PNI, bone invasion etc), field cancerization Anticipated cosmetic and functional sequelae QOL Prior therapy ACS Atlas of the Head and Neck Jatin Shah
Optimizing the Therapeutic Ratio in HNC Balance between disease control and toxicity Corry et al 2010
Management of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery Oral cavity Primary treatment Eliminates risk of ORN (complication of RT) Larynx Organ preservation/conservative laryngeal procedures can preserve voice Salivary gland tumors Surgery + post- operative RT for high- grade lesions Thyroid Total thyroidectomy NCCN Guidelines 2011
Management of Head and Neck Cancer Lymph nodes Surgery Drainage of oral cavity into extensive number of lymph nodes in the neck Neck is divided into 6 surgical levels Selective or radical neck dissection depending on stage (lymph node involvement) ACS Atlas of the Head and Neck Jatin Shah
Management of Head and Neck Cancer Radiation Therapy Can be pre- operative or post- operative Pre- operative RT Patients can undergo rigorous supportive therapy prior to surgery Control of sub- clinical disease at the primary site Typically given 5 days a week (180-200 cgy; total of 5000-6000 cgy) Post- operative RT Risk of locoregional recurrence - improved local control Advanced lesions Positive margins PNI/vascular invasion No delay in surgery, sterilization of residual microscopic disease
Management of Head and Neck Cancer Chemotherapy Platinum analogues Cisplatin, carboplatin Bind to DNA à s/ds breaks Taxanes Microtubule inhibitor cell cycle arrest 5- Fluorouracil Thymidylate synthase inhibition (DNA damage)
Management of Head and Neck Cancer The Concurrent ChemoRT paradigm Siewert et al., 2007
Management of Head and Neck Cancer The Concurrent ChemoRT paradigm Siewert et al., 2007
Molecular Pathogenesis of HNC EGFR pathway Leemans et al., 2011 Ciardiello & Tortora, 2008
Targeted Therapies for HNSCC EGFR inhibitors Cetuximab monoclonal antibody against EGFR First targeted agent to be approved for HNC Ciardiello & Tortora, 2008
Management of Head and Neck Cancer Anti- EGFR therapy + Radiation Treatment of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer with concomitant high- dose radiotherapy plus cetuximab improves locoregional control and reduces mortality without increasing the common toxic effects associated with radiotherapy to the head and neck. Bonner et al., 2006
Management of Head and Neck Cancer Anti- EGFR therapy + chemotherapy On November 7, 2011 the U.S.FDA approved cetuximab in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin and 5- fluorouracil for the first- line treatment of patients with recurrent locoregional or metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. The median overall survival was 10.1 months (95% CI: 8.6 11.2) for the cetuximab/ chemotherapy arm compared to 7.4 months (6.4, 8.3) for the chemotherapy alone arm (stratified log- rank p.035). Cohen et al., 2013
Antiangiogenic Therapies in HNSCC Klein et al 2010
Treatment complications Scully/Bagan 2009
Treatment complications Mucositis (complication of RT) Inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal lining of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and GI tract due to the direct cytotoxic effects on the epithelial cells - Painful, affects QOL - Management: Mouth rinses, anti- fungal agents Xerostomia (dry mouth) Effect of RT on salivary glands Management salivary substitutes, Dental management - prevention of caries, fluoride gels Osteoradionecrosis Non- vital bone in a site of radiation injury; related to radiation PreRT dental evaluation is imperative to minimize risk of ORN Supportive therapy, HBO therapy, microvascular reconstruction
Prognosis Clinical impact and Biological Mechanisms of HPV- associated HNSCC
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Human papilloma virus DNA viruses with tropism for squamous epithelia High- risk oncogenic types: HPV16,- 18,- 31-,33,- 35 Rautava- Syrjanen, 2012
HPV & Carcinogenesis The E6 protein binds p53 and targets the protein for degradation, whereas the E7 protein binds and inactivates the Rb pocket proteins. The molecular consequence of the expression of these viral oncoproteins is cell cycle entry and inhibition of p53- mediated apoptosis, which allows the virus to replicate. Leemans et al., 2011
HPV Positive Vs. HPV Negative HNSCC Marur et al., 2010 Leemans et al., 2011
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers HPV- positive HNSCC Typically well defined borders Axial contrast- enhanced CT image showing midline base of tongue mass with well- defined margins and nodal metastases Cantrell et al., 2013
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers HPV- negative HNSCC Deep muscular invasion involving the extrinsic muscles of the tongue with submucosal spread Axial contrast- enhanced CT image showing a large and deeply invasive T4 base of tongue lesion, extending anteriorly into the oral tongue. Cantrell et al., 2013
Prognostic Impact of HPV in HNSCC ECOG Phase II trial (Stage III or IV HNSCC) HNSCC HPV positive HPV negative OPC Patients with HPV- positive tumors had higher response rates compared to patients with HPV- negative tumors after induction chemotherapy (82% vs 55%) and after chemoradiation treatment (84% vs 57%) Fakhry et al., 2008
Prognostic Impact of HPV in HNSCC RTOG 0128 Strong and independent prognostic factor for survival among patients with oropharyngeal cancer Ang et al., 2010
Prognostic Impact of HPV in HNSCC Summary of Clinical Evidence For patients with HNSCC of the oropharynx, tumor HPV status is strongly associated with therapeutic response and survival Langer, 2012
Impact of HPV on Targeted Therapies p16 and HPV status have prognostic value in R/M SCCHN and survival benefits of chemotherapy plus cetuximab over chemotherapy alone are independent of tumor p16 and HPV status. Vermorken et al., 2014
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Biological mechanisms Possible reasons for the improved survival - Increased sensitivity to chemo/rad - Immune surveillance to viral antigens - Absence of field cancerization in these patients who tend to be nonsmokers - HPV- positive tumors may have an intact apoptotic response to radiation and chemotherapy (functional inactivation may not be similar to p53 mutation). Fakhry et al., 2006 Marur et al., 2010
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Biological mechanisms HPV+ cells exhibit enhanced sensitivity to radiation Low levels of normal functioning p53 in HPV+HNC could be activated by radiation Kimple et al., 2013
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Biological mechanisms Kimple et al., 2013 Inactivation of the p53 and prb pathways is a common event in the molecular progression of HNSCC but occurs by different mechanisms in HPV+ and HPV- tumors. HPV- positive tumors Tend to have wild- type p53 because p53 is functionally inactivated by viral E6 oncoprotein HPV- negative tumors have specific p53 mutations demonstrated to be induced by carcinogens in tobacco Fakhry et al., 2006
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Biological mechanisms Troy et al., 2013
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Biological mechanisms Kostareli et al., 2012
Therapeutic Impact of HPV- related HNC - HPV+ and HPV- cancers are discrete cancers with differing biology. - Current HNSCC treatments have a severe impact on QOL - - Can treatment intensity be personalized by HPV status? Treatment de- intensification to reduce acute toxicity and improve patient recovery? - Selection of patients for organ preservation therapy Need to identify new approaches to treat HPV- negative HNSCC Chung and Schwartz, 2012
HPV- associated Head and Neck Cancers Implications for Prevention A male phenomenon No change in incidence of HPV- related cancers in women Growing burden of younger patients with good performance status and superior survival Male vaccination? Chaturvedi et al., NCI Marur et al., 2010
Head and neck cancers Concluding remarks Biologically heterogeneous group of cancers Management is complex and interdisciplinary Understand the role of HPV and its clinical implications The need for early detection and chemoprevention strategies Kostareli et al., 2012