Laryngeal cancers in paediatric and young adult patients: epidemiology, biology and treatment

Purpose of review The aim of thi study was to review the recent literature on epidemiology, biology and treatment of laryngeal cancer in paediatric and young adult patients. Recent findings Epidemiological studies reported that 2–10% of patients with laryngeal cancer are younger than 40-year-old, while the prevalence of laryngeal cancer remains unknown in the paediatric population. The development of laryngeal cancer in young adults is multifactorial and may be linked to common carcinogens (tobacco and alcohol), occupational factors, laryngopharyngeal reflux, immunosuppression, human papillomavirus infection and genetic polymorphism. A substantial number of cohort studies reported a significant lower proportion of drinkers and smokers in young populations with laryngeal cancer, supporting the higher prevalence of chromosomal losses or abnormalities predisposing to cancer in this group. The development of laryngeal cancer in paediatric patients is strongly associated with genetic syndromes with DNA repair abnormalities. The pathological, clinical and survival outcome differences between young and old patient groups vary significantly between studies, depending on epidemiological, genetic features and therapeutic strategies used. Summary Paediatric and adult populations with laryngeal cancer present different clinical, pathological and survival outcomes. In the adult population, the patient age at the time of disease development underlies genetic and etiolog...
Source: Current Opinion in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Tags: HEAD AND NECK ONCOLOGY: Edited by Cesare Piazza and Alberto Paderno Source Type: research