New diagnostic test identifies head and neck cancer patients curable by surgery alone

Researchers developed a diagnostic test based on the LIMA1-alpha protein to distinguish patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who can be cured with surgery alone, without the need for radiation or chemotherapy.

Researchers from the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland, led by Docent Sami Ventelä and Professor Jukka Westermarck, have identified a novel diagnostic tool that can revolutionise the treatment guidance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Their newly published study introduces an easy-to-use immunohistochemical assay for detecting the LIMA1-alpha protein, which reliably predicts whether patients can be cured with surgery alone, avoiding the need for harmful oncological treatments. Read more at this LINK