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Head and Neck Cancer

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 saliva-based test using methylated microRNAs for head and neck cancer recurrence.