There is considerable research being conducted on cancers of the throat. Scientists are studying the causes and prevention of the disease, as well as more effective treatment methods. Areas of research include:

• DNA. Scientists are studying DNA changes that may contribute to the development of oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. Studies have found that mutations of the p53 gene may be linked to the growth of cancer cells in the mouth and throat. Researchers continue to work on developing tests that may detect the p53 gene mutation to help identify early oral and laryngeal tumors. These tests also may help physicians define the margins of a tumor, which is used to determine if all the cancer cells have been removed. Such tests also have potential to determine which tumors will respond better to surgery or radiation therapy.
  
  Other studies are focusing on DNA changes and the human papillomavirus (HPV). Scientists are working tests that may detect HPV DNA, which may lead to earlier diagnosis of throat cancers. HPV vaccines that prevent cervical cancer are being evaluated in terms of oral cancer prevention.
  
  
• Chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Scientists are evaluating several drugs that may be used in chemoprevention of certain throat cancers. These drugs may help prevent precancerous lesions from becoming cancerous or prevent cancerous growths from returning. Other chemopreventive agents are being tested to help prevent a second primary tumor from developing in head and neck cancer patients.
  
  Researches continue to work on new chemotherapy drugs or combinations that may be more effective against throat cancers. Scientists are studying the use of intralesional chemotherapy, which involves injecting drugs directly into a tumor. Initial use of this approach was limited because the drug appeared to quickly spread to nearby tissues. However, improvements with the drug solution have renewed an interest in this therapy. Researchers are also studying the injection of chemotherapy drugs into arteries feeding the cancer in advanced laryngeal cancer patients.
  
  

Growth factors. Oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancers have been associated with certain growth factors. These hormone-like substances attach to receptors that signal cells to grow and divide. Too much growth factor can cause cancer cells to grow especially fast and spread in the body. One particular growth factor that has been linked to throat cancers is called epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Scientists have developed several new drugs to block EGF receptors. Three of these drugs, known as EGFR inhibitors, are being used in clinical trials for head and neck cancers. The drugs have shown limited effectiveness on their own but may help make chemotherapy and radiation more effective.

Another drug, cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody and has been shown to be successful in shrinking and eliminating oral cancers when given along with radiation therapy. It has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use with radiation in patients with advanced oral cancer. Further studies on growth hormone inhibitors are being continued.