Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

Upper aerodigestive tract cancer (UATC) is aggressive malignancy derived from stratified epithelium of the upper aerodigestive tract, including oral cavity, larynx and oropharynx, and esophagus. Over one million new cases of UATC are diagnosed worldwide every year, with oral and esophageal cancers being the most common types. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and -negative tumors are considered distinct diseases with distinguishing biological and clinical features. Effective targeted regimens are still unavailable for most UATC, which is highly aggressive. For example, 5-year survival rate of oral cancer patients is approximately 50%. Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutic options for oral cancer patients are limited and often ineffective. More importantly, the short-term effects (e.g., mucositis, odynophagia) and long-term toxicities (e.g., xerostomia, dysphagia, ototoxicity) from treatment substantially affect quality of life and rival the impact of the cancer itself. This Topic aims to highlight the latest advances in both basic and clinical studies on UATC, with the goal of promoting research of pathophysiology of UATC to advance the healthcare and life quality of its patients. Original research papers and review articles are welcomed.

Dr. De-Chen Lin
Dr. Uttam K. Sinha
Topic Editors