The Department is conducting extensive research on head and neck cancer. Research is also being undertaken to maximize functional outcomes and minimize the morbidity of surgery using cutting-edge reconstructive techniques to provide an individualized approach for each patient and de-intensified chemoradiotherapy. A randomized trial that showed the importance of surgeon credentialing has led to new studies upon which current clinical trials will be built.
Kevin Contrera, MD, MPH, focuses on clinical trials and is the principal investigator for several head and neck studies currently enrolling at UPMC. His work explores how cancer treatment can be adapted to personalize individual approaches through neoadjuvant therapy, biomarkers, and targeted medications.
Angela L. Mazul, PhD, is a cancer epidemiologist whose research delves into the intricate pathways connecting socioeconomic status and modifiable risk factors to the genomics and etiology of head and neck cancer. She is developing a case-control study with prospective patient follow-up in Western Pennsylvania to uncover factors associated with oral cavity risk, particularly among underrepresented populations. Dr. Mazul's overarching goal is to significantly advance our comprehension of the multifaceted interplay between genetics and social determinants of health, thereby enhancing head and neck cancer care across the cancer continuum.
Marci Nilsen, PhD, RN, CHPN, FAAN, Director of the UPMC Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Clinic, received grants to research what causes radiation-induced fibrosis and its effects. Understanding this will aid the development of tailored interventions to improve patient quality of life and reduce morbidity. Dr. Nilsen has also received a grant to work with community oncology practices to enhance symptom assessment and management during radiation. It is vital that patients, regardless of their geographical location, have access to equitable, high-quality cancer care.
Matthew E. Spector, MD, FACS, has research interests related to both clinical and translational questions in head and neck oncology and head and neck reconstruction. He is primarily interested in improving the overall survival of patients with head and neck cancer through outcomes research to improve patient selection and prediction of response to therapy. He has significant experience designing, managing, and completing biomarker-based experiments to assess predictors of recurrence in head and neck cancer. He is a PI of an R01-funded lab to help define the role of HPV integration in predicting outcomes in head and neck cancer.
José P. Zevallos, MD, MPH, FACS, Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, runs a translational research lab focusing on HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer genomics and biomarker development. The lab has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Head and Neck Society, the Veterans Affairs research program, and many others.
He is currently the Principal Investigator on four grants: a four-class Molecular Subtyping Diagnostic for HPV-negative head and Neck Cancer; a phase II trial of surgery followed by risk-directed post-operative adjuvant therapy for HPV (+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: The Minimalist 2 Trial; HPV genomic structural subtypes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; and Postdoctoral Training in Head and Neck Oncology. Dr. Zevallos is a co-investigator of a saliva-based test using methylated microRNAs for head and neck cancer recurrence.
SPORE
The UPMC Department of Otolaryngology is the home of the Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant in Head and Neck Cancer at the University of Pittsburgh.
This collaborative grant, funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI-NIH), provides funding for multiple laboratories involved in biomedical head and neck cancer research.
» Learn more about the NCI's SPORE grants.
Cancer Vaccines and Tests
Other ongoing research projects at the UPMC Division of Head and Neck Cancer include:
- Research on a cancer vaccine against the p53 tumor suppressor
- A preliminary research investigation seeks to develop a new vaccine for patients with oral cavity and oropharynx carcinoma
- A new study evaluates an intraoperative test using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify—in 30 minutes—the spread of cancer into the neck lymph nodes
- Studies funded by the National Institutes of Health aim to understand biological signaling in cancer cells better
- A major effort to develop a study on the care of thyroid cancer also is underway
The division bases its research efforts on the guiding principle that today's findings may lead to new knowledge and improved patient care.
Patient Participation in Head and Neck Cancer Research
All of the patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment at UPMC have the opportunity to participate in clinical outcomes research.
We carefully track important treatment and outcomes data of consenting patients in the head and neck tumor registry. This database allows UPMC physicians to obtain vital treatment-related outcomes information about their patients.
Funding for this form of practice-based learning is through private philanthropy, thanks to the Stout Family Fund for Head and Neck Cancer Research. This will ensure that future generations can benefit from the experiences of today’s patients.
Contact the UPMC Institute for Head & Neck Surgery
Please call 412-647-2100 to schedule an appointment with a UPMC head and neck surgeon or to learn more about our research.
University Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists (Oakland)
203 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213