Translational Research in Head and Neck Oncology

Translational research in head and neck oncology has evolved dramatically. Ongoing discoveries in basic mechanisms of cancer biology and technological advances in both diagnostic imaging and radiation delivery have enhanced the ability to improve treatment outcomes. The overarching goal for all translational research should be to enlarge the armamentarium from which clinicians can rationally select the most appropriate options for individual patients in ways that maximize therapeutic benefit and minimize toxicity. Focusing on this goal will become more critical as the health care system deals with external economic, social, and political pressures and forces that will affect both bench and bedside. As these concerns encroach on the translational process, it is imperative to recognize that the research itself is best equipped to address them – more efficacious treatments, improved patient selection, decreased toxicity. What also should not be lost in translation is the unpredictable and occasional serendipitous nature of research. Two cornerstones of head and neck cancer therapy, cisplatin [1, 2] and cetuximab, owe their existence to chance and fate. Meanwhile, the compelling story of tumor hypoxia has yet to result in any new additions to the therapeutic arsenal. This chapter will explore the meaning of translational research means, identify potential pitfalls on the horizon, and highlight common themes and new avenues of research using specific examples from both the head and neck and general oncology literature.