Chemokine Receptors as Biomarkers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is reported to be the 6th most common solid tumor diagnosed in the world [1]. Around 95% head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas originating in the upper aerodigestive epithelial cells [2]. Despite continuous research efforts and progresses in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, the mortality rates have not significantly changed over the past several decades [3]. Moreover, the five-year survival rate of HNSCC after diagnosis is considerably lower than that of other cancers, such as cervix, colorectal and breast cancer [4,5]. The reason for the limited five-year survival rate of HNSCC could be advanced disease stages, failure in early diagnosis and low efficiency of therapeutic strategies [6,7]. The death of HNSCC is mainly caused by invasion along with regional and/or distant metastatic spreading of tumor cells from primary tumor lesions [8]. Therefore, the key point of the treatment of head and neck cancers is early diagnosis.