At the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dresden, the aim of oncological research is to individualize the operative tumor treatment in respect to tumor resection and to tissue reconstruction. A prospective multicentric, interdisciplinary (Radiation Oncology, OMS, ENT) observation study has the primary objective of validating prognostic biomarkers for relapse-free survival 24 months after surgical treatment of early stage squamous cell carcinoma (UICC I and II) in the head and neck region. The biomarkers to be considered are currently explorative investigated in an ongoing retrospective study. Secondary objectives of this prospective, multicentric observation study are disease-free survival (2J-DFS), survival without distant metastases (2J-MFS) and overall survival (2J-OS) after 24 months, respectively.
Another focus of oncological research is to elucidate gene related mechanisms in tumorigenesis. It is known that patients with Fanconi anemiea (FA) gene mutations have a higher risk to HNSCC. As common feature we found a loss of heterozygosity in FA genes in 47% of our patients with HNSCC.
In respect of reconstruction after ablative tumor surgery several prospective observation studies have been instigated, e.g. determining the use of prefabricated microvascular flaps for mandible reconstruction. The outcome of individual mandible implants is currently a focus of clinical research. In addition to allow for oral rehabilitation and reestablishing the chewing function the use of short dental implants is prospectively studied.
