Molecular Pathways Shaping Head and Neck Cancer Care

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 29

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Interests: head and neck cancer; tumor microenvironment; cancer-associated fibroblasts; HPV-driven oncogenesis; molecular diagnostics & precision oncology; glutamine metabolism and metabolic vulnerabilities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Head and neck cancers represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies characterized by complex molecular drivers, diverse etiologies, and profound clinical challenges. Advances in our understanding of tumor biology, ranging from viral oncogenesis to the tumor–immune microenvironment, are rapidly reshaping diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. As precision oncology gains momentum, unraveling the molecular pathways that govern tumor initiation, progression, and treatment response is critical to improving patient outcomes.

This Special Issue of Life, “Molecular Pathways Shaping Head and Neck Cancer Care”, invites original research and comprehensive reviews focused on how emerging mechanistic insights translate into clinical practice. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: biomarker discovery, immune checkpoint regulation, stromal and microenvironmental signaling, therapeutic resistance pathways, and molecular determinants of radiation and systemic therapy response. Studies that leverage cutting-edge technologies—such as single-cell and spatial omics, organoid modeling, and radiogenomic integration—are especially encouraged.

By bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical application, this issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of how molecular insights can guide precision diagnostics, novel therapeutics, and personalized treatment algorithms. Ultimately, we seek to highlight pathways that not only illuminate disease biology but also transform the care of patients with head and neck cancer.

We look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Albert Yoon-Kyu Han
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • head and neck cancer
  • molecular pathways
  • tumor microenvironment
  • precision oncology
  • translational research

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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