Prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

This review will focus on prognostic factors that can be disclosed by the pathological and molecular analysis of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The following pathological prognostic factors are considered and discussed: location, histopathology, lymph node metastasis. In addition, a number of molecular genetic markers have been identified such as: DNA content, chromosomal abnormalities, cell proliferation, RAS gene family, epidermal growth factor and its receptor, tumor-suppressor genes, cell adhesion molecules and proteinases.