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6th ICHNO
6
th
ICHNO Conference
International Conference on innovative approaches in Head and Neck Oncology
16 – 18 March 2017
Barcelona, Spain
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Keynote lecture
SP-001 Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer:
integrating the fourth modality
R. Ferris
1
1
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburg- PA,
USA
Abstract text
The immune system plays a key role in the development,
establishment and progression of head and neck cancer. A
greater understanding of the dysregulation and evasion of
the immune system in the evolution and progression of
head and neck cancers provides the basis for improved
therapies and outcomes for patients. Head and neck
cancer evades the host`s immune system on different
levels: 1. Manipulation of its own immunogenicity, 2.
Production of immunosuppressive molecules, and 3.
Promotion of immunomodulatory cell types. Through the
tumor`s influence on the microenvironment, the immune
system can be exploited to promote metastasis,
angiogenesis and growth. In this chapter, we review basic
immunology as it relates to head and neck cancer and
discuss the theory of cancer immunosurveillance and
immune escape. A brief overview to key components in
the tumor microenvironment is provided. Current research
on cytokines as biomarkers, cancer stem cells, tumor
antigens and immunotherapeutic strategies are
presented.
Keynote lecture
SP-002 State of the art in robotic surgery
E. Moore
1
1
Mayo Clinic MN, Head and neck, Rochester, USA
Abstract text
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has evolved from an
esoteric means of accessing tumors of the palate tonsil
and tongue base to an essential tool and modality in the
armamentarium of both oncologic and functional head
and neck surgeons all over the world. This evolution has
occurred in a relatively short time frame considering the
usual slow and methodical course of surgical
change. TORS is now utilized to access not only tumors of
the tonsil and base of tongue, but also tumors of the
nasopharynx, hypopharynx, supraglottis, and even
glottis. TORS is utilized heavily in the treatment of
obstructive sleep apnea.
The next phase of transoral robotic surgery will utilize
instrument modifications that allow greater flexibility of
the camera, smaller working arms, and new modalities of
tissue interaction. Utilization of other lighting sources
will allow improved recognition of tumors, lymphatics,
and vascular structures. Combination of the visual
interface with imaging will allow incorporations of image
guidance
to
the
surgical
technique.
This talk will discuss what is happening with robotic
surgery currently, the current limitations, and the
evolutions that will hopefully expand the capabilities of
transoral robotic surgery in the future. The audience will
hopefully find inspiration to utilize new technology, and
also to add innovation to the rapidly expanding field of
transoral robotic surgery.
Symposium: Prognostic modelling
SP-003 Radiomics: the poor man molecular imaging?
P. Lambin
The Netherlands
Abstract not received
SP-004 Novel insights into head and neck cancer by
transcriptome approaches
L. De Cecco
1
1
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori,
Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular
Medicine, Milan, Italy
Abstract text
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the
sixth leading cancer by incidence worldwide and its
pathogenesis is multifactorial, being related to alcohol
and tobacco exposure and to Human Papillomavirus
infection. Despite the improvements in the therapeutic
modalities, the long-term survival rate remained
unchanged over the past decade. For this reason, there is
a great need to find better ways to foresee outcome, to
improve treatment choices, and to enable a more
personalized approach. The development of high-
throughput gene-expression assays in the last two decades
has provided the invaluable opportunity to improve our
knowledge on cancer biology and to identify signatures
related to outcome in many malignancies. More than 100
studies reporting gene-expression profiling studies in
HNSCC from clinical samples have been published since
2000; however, several limits are present including i)
inadequate sample size; ii) heterogeneous anatomical
districts under analysis; iii) unknown tumor-to-stroma
ratio; iv) technical (microarray platforms) and analytical
(bioinformatics tools) differences. Overall, these studies
have improved our knowledge of the biology of the
disease. In recent years in the attempt to reach adequate
statistical power for identifying clinically relevant
signatures, a number of studies reporting meta-analysis
has been published. Eventually, the integration of gene
expression profiles with other “omics” data including
miRNome, methylome, copy number variation, and
mutational status by whole-exome sequencing, and with
new emerging tools, no strictly genetics/genomics-
related, such as functional (e.g. Positron Emission
Tomography) or morphological (Magnetic Resonance
Imaging) imaging modalities may encourage the
development of new diagnostic or therapeutic
approaches. The key objective of the present talk is to
provide an overview of the main achievements of
transcriptome analyses in HNSCC including: i)
identification of subgroups of tumors with different
biology and associated prognosis; ii) prediction of
outcome; iii) prediction of response to therapy.
SP-005 The TRIPOD guideline
K.G.M. Moons
The Netherlands
Abstract not received
Proffered papers 1
OC-006 Outcomes of head and neck cancer with N3
nodal disease: a review of the National Cancer Data Base