Association of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer Biomarkers in Surgical Drain Fluid With Patient Outcomes

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Abstract
Survival rates for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck have been relatively stable for decades. Currently, clinicians make treatment decisions primarily by using standard clinical, pathologic, and radiologic variables. These indicators are collectively combined to create an individualized TNM and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage that informs treatment selection and prognosis. Surgeons and physicians treating these patients, however, have an immense interest in further individualizing therapy to allow for de-escalation of treatment in low-risk patients vs additional treatments in high-risk patients. Although the data regarding tumors positive for human papilloma virus suggest that a discrete disease variable can be used to recommend less intense therapy,1,2 other biomarkers are needed to better individualize care in this patient population.

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