Cytogenetics in head and neck cancer.

Cytogenetic analysis of cell lines has identified a number of chromosomal regions that are likely to contain the genes important in malignant transformation in HNSCC. Further work needs to be done comparing results from cells grown in culture with tumors from which they are derived to determine the applicability of cytogenetic analysis. Preliminary results suggest that some of the chromosome changes observed may correlate with a cell's response to radiation and as such could provide a tool for evaluating a patient's response to planned therapy.