A Systematic Review on Relationship Between Head and Neck Cancer Associated to Parkinson’s Disease View PDF

In industrialized countries, PD affects 0.3% of the population and nearly 2% of those over 65 years of age, making it one of the most common and well-studied of all age-related neurodegenerative disorders. As a result of dopaminergic neurons being lost in the substantia nigra pars compacta, PD consists of four cardinal motor symptoms: resting tremor, rigidity, hypokinesia, and postural instability. Because of its elusive mechanisms, this slowly debilitating disease remains incurable and irreversible [1]. Cancer is another chronic disease that has a devastating impact on human health and is a significant research focus [2]. The inverse association between PD and cancer has been reported in a number of epidemiological studies, and a positive association has been found recently in some cancers, including the skin, breast, and brain. In molecular genetics and cell biology, genetic mutations that alter cell cycle control, protein turnover, and mitochondrial function have been revealed to be associated with this positive association [3]. Biologically similar cancers originate in many parts of the body, including the oral cavity, the pharynx, the larynx, the paranasal sinuses, and the neck. Across different nations in the world, HNC has a lower incidence rate than other cancers, at 7 - 8 per 100,000 person-years [4-9]. At 2.2 per 100,000 person-years, HNC remains a significant cause of death. As cancer diagnostic technologies and therapeutic interventions like surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have improved, patients with HNC have had a significantly longer survival rate [10]. The increased survival rates have led to an increase in late-onset complications despite these improvements. In particular, long-term adverse effects, including neurodegenerative diseases, are a growing concern. In many cases, this condition develops months or years after treatment for the malignancy or its treatment. In addition to affecting patients’ quality of life, HNC can also impose a significant burden on the healthcare system due to its neurodegenerative consequences [11, 12]. HNC and its treatments have long-term neurodegenerative effects, which is crucial for improving patient outcomes and addressing healthcare challenges. It is a neurodegenerative movement disorder caused by the premature death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Patients with this disease experience tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Neuronal death is well defined in its pathological characteristics, but its underlying causes and mechanisms are unclear [13-16]. In addition to providing a new perspective on the well-known opposing fate of post-mitotic neurons, the intriguing link between PD and cancer provides an intriguing explanation of cancer cells’ uncontrolled division and enhanced resistance to death. Combining these processes provides new avenues for studying age-related conditions and addressing an urgent need for therapeutic options [2, 17].