Head and neck cancer is an unexpectedly heterogeneous disease. In this Review, Leemans, Snijders and Brakenhoff provide an update on the molecular biology of head and neck cancer, outline the role of human papillomavirus and discuss the functional role of genes involved in malignant progression to identify subgroups to personalize treatment.
- C. René Leemans
- Peter J. F. Snijders
- Ruud H. Brakenhoff