Head and Neck Carcinoma and biomarker profiling: searching tumor identity card.

Head and Neck cancers are a very particular family of tumors. In our study we will concentrate essentially on the Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). Despite many strong treatment options, about 50% will recur within 2 years or, in a smaller percentage in less than 6 months. In approximately 30% of patients these tumors present with synchronous or metachronous multiples. Aim of the project is to study the molecular and genetic characteristics that best identify prognostic or predictive profiles of response to systemic treatments. All patients with relapsed, locally advanced or metastatic HNSCC is being enrolling. Each patient undergoes blood sampling for liquid biopsy to each change of systemic therapy, analyzing changes in the circulating genetic profile related to disease response or progression. Resulting data are studied by analyzing correlations with patient’s histological and clinical aspect. Inside the project, we analyzed patients who presented multiple primary tumors (MPT). From results we already obtained, we found at the moment that all of them had different mutations in target genes. These results indicate that in patients with MPT, liquid biopsy represents an opportunity to identify potential therapeutic targets. Performing it at diagnosis can give time to evaluate these possibilities and in the future it probably could replace endoscopy and radiological exams, identifying a new tumor in advance and in less-invasive way.