# CANCER OF THE HEAD & NECK--EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

> **NIH NIH R01** · LONG ISLAND JEWISH MEDICAL CENTER · 1987 · $140,178

## Abstract

The process of induction and progression of human cancer is exceedingly
complex and epidemiologic data suggest the involvement of a multitude of
factors.  Viral infection years prior to the development of the neoplasm
may be one of several precipitating factors.  Cellular oncogene activation,
secondary to genetic alteration, is another factor believed to be important
in human malignancies.  The specific aims of this research proposal are to
test the hypothesis that viral infection is related to an increased risk of
cancer(s) of the head and neck, and to discover the relationship between
activated oncogenes and these same cancers.

The investigation will take the form of a case-control study.  The study
population will consist of approximately 1200 patients from physicians in
the Departments of Otolaryngology, Surgery, Medicine and Dentistry at Long
Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center.  Cases (600) will be patients who
are newly diagnosed and treated for:  squamous cell carcinomas of the oral
cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, adeno and squamous
cell carcinomas of the esophagus, lymphomas of the head and neck, or
malignant salivary gland tumors.  Controls (600) will be patients
surgically treated for benign diseases of the same sites.

The occurrence of past infection will be ascertained by:  history, serology
and biochemical analysis of tissues obtained for the presence of the viral
genome and RNA transcripts by Southern blots, DNA/RNA dot blot and in situ
hybridizations to molecularly cloned viral DNA probes, and viral capsid and
nuclear antigens by immunoperoxidase antibody staining of frozen sections
and impression smears.  If novel human papillomavirus-related sequences are
identified, we will attempt to clone the viral DNA molecule.  The presence
of activated oncogenes will be studied biochemically by RNA dot blot,
Northern blot and in situ hybridizations to molecularly cloned oncogene
probes.  The two sections of the project - looking for viral and oncogene
involvement will be done concurrently.

If funded, this would be the first large-scale case-control epidemiologic
study of cancers of the head and neck at the biochemical level and would
provide objective evidence which should help in evaluating whether a viral
etiology and/or known oncogenes are involved.  In a broader sense, this
information will contribute to our understanding of the interactions
between human viruses and oncogenes and cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177914
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039172-03
- **Recipient organization:** LONG ISLAND JEWISH MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** JANET L BRANDSMA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $140,178
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1988-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177914

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177914, CANCER OF THE HEAD & NECK--EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY (5R01CA039172-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177914. Licensed CC0.

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