Field Cancerization:Perception, Clinical Implications and Future Prospective in HNSCC

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are usually associated with multiple premalignant lesions. This is derived from the idea of field effect in cancer. The concept of “FIELD CANCERIZATION” was introduced by Slaughter et al in 1953 while studying the presence of histologically altered tissue adjacent to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases. It explains the initiation of several primary tumours and locally recurrent cancer. Advance technology and cautious study design using suitable control is helpful in detection of important molecular biomarkers in genetically transmuted but histologically normal cells. These tumor specific biomarkers should improve clinical implications and effectiveness in early diagnosis and treatment modalities. In this review we discuss the perception, clinical implications and effectiveness of field cancerization in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.