Popis: |
Human malignancies arising from the head and neck region represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. Tobacco and alcohol are regarded to be the most important risk factors, whereas diet and smokeless tobacco are considered to be of major importance in high endemic areas (for review see Vokes et al., 1993). Increasing evidence suggests that viruses, e.g. Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as mutation of tumour suppressor genes possibly caused by exogenous carcinogens, can contribute to the development of head and neck cancer (for review see Vokes et al., 1993). |