Advances in Biomarkers, Biomaterials, Inflammatory and Immune Microenvironment, and Therapeutic Strategies for Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC) remains a significant global healthcare challenge, characterized by persistently high incidence and mortality rates. Despite continuous advancements of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, challenges including high late-stage diagnosis rate, high recurrence risk, drug resistance and substantial treatment toxicity continue to impede significant progress in survival and quality of life for patients. Recent advances in oral science have highlighted the critical roles of biomarkers (for early detection and prognostic evaluation), biomaterials (for tissue repair and targeted drug delivery), and inflammatory and immune microenvironment (in tumor progression and treatment response). However, notable obstacles persist in the translation of basic research to clinical practice. Specifically, few biomarkers have been validated for clinical use, biocompatible targeted biomaterials are still limited, and strategies for regulating the tumor microenvironment are still underdeveloped. This Research Topic aims to integrate cutting-edge advances in HNC by focusing on four interdependent domains: biomarkers, biomaterials, the inflammatory and immune microenvironment, and innovative therapeutic strategies. The main objective is to enhance bench-to-bedside translation by accelerating the clinical adoption of reliable biomarkers for early and accurate diagnosis, developing next-generation biomaterials for targeted therapy and tissue regeneration, elucidating mechanisms underpinning how the tumor microenvironment drives disease progression, and advancing personalized theraputic approaches such as immunotherapy or and rational combination strategies. By fostering collaborations across basic, translational, and clinical research, this Research Topic addresses central challenges in HNC clinical management, with the ultimate goal of enabling earlier and more precise detection, personalized treatment, and reduced treatment-related risks.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses advancing understanding and clinical application within the interconnected fields of HNC. We welcome articles related, but not limited, to the following themes:o Discovery, validation, and clinical translation of novel head and neck cancer biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), exosomes, and genetic/epigenetic signatureso Development and application of advanced biomaterials for targeted drug delivery, immunomodulation, and tissue repair (including nanocarriers, scaffolds, and hydrogels)o Mechanistic studies on the inflammatory and immune microenvironment in HNC progression, metastasis, and treatment resistanceo Preclinical and clinical advances in novel therapeutic and immunotherapeutic strategies, including rational combination treatmentso Multidisciplinary approaches that bridge the gap between basic scientific discoveries and clinical utility, such as biomarker-guided biomaterial delivery systems Topic editors: Ma Xiangrui, Pan Gao, Chenzhou Wu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76992/advances-in-biomarkers-biomaterials-inflammatory-and-immune-microenvironment-and-therapeutic-strategies-for-head-and-neck-cancer