Cancers that are known collectively as head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck (for example, inside the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, sinuses, or salivary glands). Treatment for head and neck cancer can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of treatments. Improvements in diagnosis and local management, as well as targeted therapy, have led to improvements in quality of life and survival for people with head and neck cancer.

Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) clinical trials are currently under development and showing promising results. It involves selective delivery of isotopes that emit highly energetic alpha particles to cancer cells leading to their ultimate destruction, while minimizing collateral damage to healthy surrounding cells.

Sources: Cancer.gov, NIH.gov