Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies in Head and Neck Cancer
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editors
Interests: head and neck oncology; tumor microenvironment; treatment resistance; histopathology; translational research
2. "Ion Chiricuță" Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: translational oncology; hematologic malignancies; stem cell biology; cancer stem cells; immunotherapy; cell-based therapies; tumor microenvironment; precision medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Head and neck cancer (HNC) includes varied tumors arising from the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx, characterized by distinct molecular profiles and complex pathogenic pathways. Clinically, these malignancies are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, often requiring multimodal treatment approaches. While treatment advances have improved care, patients with advanced-stage disease or early-stage tumors demonstrating high-risk pathological features remain at elevated risk of poor outcomes due to persistent issues such as therapy resistance, locoregional relapse, and distant dissemination. A deeper understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive tumor progression, treatment response, and immune evasion is essential to improve patient outcomes and guide the development of more effective, personalized treatment strategies.
In recent years, significant progress has been made in elucidating the biological complexity of HNC, including the contributions of cancer stem cells, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, tumor–stroma interactions, immune modulation, and the oncogenic impact of viruses such as HPV. These findings are reshaping current perspectives on disease pathogenesis and revealing new opportunities for therapeutic innovation.
For this Special Issue, we invite original research articles and reviews that address emerging mechanisms and therapeutic strategies related to head and neck cancer. Areas of focus may include cellular signaling networks, resistance to conventional and targeted therapies, immunotherapeutic approaches, tumor microenvironment dynamics, biomarker development, and novel treatment combinations. We are particularly interested in studies that bridge basic science with translational and clinical relevance, contributing to advancing precision oncology in HNC.
Dr. Madalina Anca Moldovan
Dr. Ciprian Tomuleasa
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- tumor microenvironment
- epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)
- tumor–stroma interaction
- treatment resistance
- radiotherapy sensitization
- targeted therapy
- precision oncology
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