Are Discrepancies in the Amount of Radiation Delivered to Target Neoplastic Cells and Teeth in Cases of Head and Neck Cancer Significant Considerations in Laboratory Research?

Each year, 2.4 million new cases of head and neck cancer (HNC) are reported, resulting in 1.3 million deaths.[1] HNC is a comprehensive term for neoplasms that develop in areas such as the mouth, tongue, soft and hard palate, buccal mucosa, tonsils, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, thyroid, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavities, and salivary glands.[1] The therapeutic approach for HNC often involves a combination of surgery and radiotherapy, or alternatively, multimodal therapy combining chemotherapy with other modalities of treatment.[2] Radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation as a therapeutic agent.[3] High-energy radiation acts directly on the breaking of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chains of neoplastic cells, or indirectly, on the production of free radicals and hydrogen peroxide, leading to cellular apoptosis.[4]