Challenges and Opportunities in Head and Neck Cancer Research in Developing Countries: Insights From a Fireside Chat
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a significant public health burden in developing countries, where access to early diagnosis, comprehensive care, and research infrastructure is limited. This article synthesizes the insights generated during a Fireside Chat convened by members of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG)—Head and Neck and the Brazilian Group of Head and Neck Cancer (GBCP), with the participation of international expert Professor Hisham Mehanna. The discussion addressed key challenges and opportunities in clinical and translational research within resource-constrained settings. Major themes included the unmet needs of patients with HNSCC, particularly regarding treatment-related toxicities and the need for biomarker-driven, personalized approaches. Barriers to research in low- and middle-income countries were explored, including patient comorbidities, late-stage presentation, and regulatory hurdles. The group emphasized the importance of pragmatic, context-sensitive research that reflects local disease burden, health care structures, and cultural factors. Capacity building, multidisciplinary teamwork, and integration of translational science into clinical care were highlighted as essential for advancing outcomes. The manuscript also outlines the preparedness of Brazilian centers for early-phase trials, strategies to enhance patient recruitment, and mechanisms to strengthen collaboration among researchers, governmental agencies, and industry. Successful models from LACOG and GBCP were presented to illustrate local leadership in advancing HNSCC research. Ultimately, the authors advocate for a coordinated national research agenda that positions Brazil and similar nations as meaningful contributors to the global head and neck cancer research landscape, fostering innovation while addressing the realities of under-represented populations.
Citação
@online{aline_lauda_freitas2025,
author = {Aline Lauda Freitas , Chaves and Luiz Paulo , Kowalski and
Gustavo Nader , Marta and Alan Roger , Santos-Silva and Muniz,
Luciana, Vieira and Milena Perez , Mak and Gustavo , Gossling and
Vítor Souza , Guimaraes and De Castro Junior, Dalvaro, Oliveira and
Oliveira, Thiago Bueno, De and Carmen Silvia Passos , Lima and
Macedo, Ligia, Traldi and Alexandre Arthur , Jacinto and Guilherme ,
Harada and Malu Viter Da Rosa , Barbosa and Izabella Costa , Santos
and Filho, Eronides Salustiano, Batalha and Castro Junior, Gilberto,
De and Marchi, Pedro Rafael Martins, De and Leandro Luongo , Matos
and Maria Paula , Curado and Hisham , Mehanna and William Nassib ,
William},
title = {Challenges and Opportunities in Head and Neck Cancer Research
in Developing Countries: Insights From a Fireside Chat},
number = {11},
date = {2025-05-01},
doi = {10.1200/GO-25-00207},
langid = {pt-BR},
abstract = {Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a
significant public health burden in developing countries, where
access to early diagnosis, comprehensive care, and research
infrastructure is limited. This article synthesizes the insights
generated during a Fireside Chat convened by members of the Latin
American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG)—Head and Neck and the
Brazilian Group of Head and Neck Cancer (GBCP), with the
participation of international expert Professor Hisham Mehanna. The
discussion addressed key challenges and opportunities in clinical
and translational research within resource-constrained settings.
Major themes included the unmet needs of patients with HNSCC,
particularly regarding treatment-related toxicities and the need for
biomarker-driven, personalized approaches. Barriers to research in
low- and middle-income countries were explored, including patient
comorbidities, late-stage presentation, and regulatory hurdles. The
group emphasized the importance of pragmatic, context-sensitive
research that reflects local disease burden, health care structures,
and cultural factors. Capacity building, multidisciplinary teamwork,
and integration of translational science into clinical care were
highlighted as essential for advancing outcomes. The manuscript also
outlines the preparedness of Brazilian centers for early-phase
trials, strategies to enhance patient recruitment, and mechanisms to
strengthen collaboration among researchers, governmental agencies,
and industry. Successful models from LACOG and GBCP were presented
to illustrate local leadership in advancing HNSCC research.
Ultimately, the authors advocate for a coordinated national research
agenda that positions Brazil and similar nations as meaningful
contributors to the global head and neck cancer research landscape,
fostering innovation while addressing the realities of
under-represented populations.}
}