Head & Neck SPOREs
SPOREs in head and neck cancer support translational research on cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract. In 2019, approximately 410,376 people in the United States were living with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer and 90,176 with laryngeal cancer. In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 54,000 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer and an estimated 11,230 deaths. For laryngeal cancer, approximately 12,470 new cases and 3,820 deaths are estimated. Known risk factors for head & neck cancer include smoking, alcohol use, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The first SPOREs in head and neck cancer were established in 2002, and co-funding for this program is received by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.