Launch of HEADSpAcE website

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce the launch of the Translational Studies of Head and Neck Cancer in South America and Europe (HEADSpAcE) website. HEADSpAcE is a unique study that aims to investigate multiple reasons for poor prognosis of head and neck cancers, with a particular focus on Europe and South America. The project will consider individual and structural reasons for late diagnosis; the influence of lifestyle, infections, and genetic factors on poor outcome; and the adherence to clinical guidelines in different settings.

Coordinated by IARC, the project, which started in January 2019, is funded by the European Union and brings together an international consortium of 15 partner institutes with a long record of successful collaboration in head and neck cancer.

Worldwide, more than 550 000 new cases of head and neck cancer occur per year, resulting in approximately 300 000 deaths annually. It is the sixth most common cancer type in both Europe and South America. A major reason for the high mortality rate of head and neck cancer is the late stage of diagnosis for many patients. Accurate assessment of the prognosis of head and neck cancer cases also enables appropriate decisions about treatment.

HEADSpAcE aims to identify the most appropriate way to diagnose cancers caused by the human papillomavirus and provide genomic evidence of strong predictors of prognosis that will have the potential to improve care and reduce treatment-related morbidity. Guidelines will be developed for implementation into clinical care.

Visit the HEADSpAcE website