Survival Prediction in Head and Neck Cancer: Impact of Tumor and Patient Specific Characteristics

Head and neck cancer accounts for almost 5% of all malignant tumors in the Netherlands. The most up‐todate Dutch Cancer Registry (NCR) database from 2009 reported 2878 new patients with an invasive carcinoma of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx and larynx (general incidence 17:100.000). In this thesis we focus on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas originate from the mucosal lining of the upper aero‐digestive tract. Tobacco and alcohol are irritants to this mucosal lining and therefore form major risk factors for the genesis of malignant epithelial tumors. Other reported etiological factors are malnutrition, viral factors (Epstein Barr virus and Human Papilloma virus), genetic predispositions and occupational hazards.