Transdisciplinary Oral/Oropharyngeal Cancer Research & Care in Head and Neck Cancer (TORCH)

The primary objective of this exploratory, proof of concept study is to facilitate
translational science spanning clinicians and basic scientists to obtain tissue samples, PDX
models, and clinical data in order to successfully analyze tissue linked to clinical outcomes
in head and neck cancer, resulting in the methodological and statistical framework for a
larger scale clinical trial in the future. While the incidence of HNSCC has been steadily
decreasing over the last thirty years, the incidence and prevalence of oropharyngeal cancer
squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and young patients with oral tongue cancer has increased in
the face of an overall decline in smoking prevalence. Over the past few years, evidence has
emerged that oropharyngeal cancer is rising in incidence so rapidly that it has been
described as an "epidemic" and that it has or soon will surpass cervical cancer in both
incidence and mortality. In fact, over 30,000 patients will be diagnosed with oropharyngeal
cancer in the US per year, making it the most rapidly rising head and neck cancer in
incidence. Despite this unique etiopathogenesis, treatment and toxicities related to
treatment have not changed. This collaboration and interdisciplinary study will be the first
of its kind to address these important issues of cancer site, HPV status, tobacco history,
gender, age, and race using both patient tissue and PDX models to identify novel and unique
biomarkers. Also, innate to this project is the link between five separate laboratories each
conducting unique biomarker analysis.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Age > 18 years

2. Ability to sign informed consent

3. New diagnosis of stage I-IVa oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue or
oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by pathology report. Patients with
Unknown primary of the neck that is HPV+ are eligible.

4. Planning to undergo surgery as a part of definitive treatment

Exclusion criteria:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma metastasis to node(s) of neck with unknown primary tumor site
that is HPV negative.

2. Already received some treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for
his/her disease at another institution when presenting to MUSC. An exception is
neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade.

3. History of radiation therapy, for any indication, to the head and neck region

4. History of other cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer)