There is always research going on in the area of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers. Scientists are looking for causes and ways to prevent nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers. Research on better treatment for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer is now being done at many medical centers, university hospitals, and other institutions across the nation. Doctors and patients are urged to contact the nearest cancer center to find out what clinical trials are going on in their community.

Genetics

We don't know of any inherited tendencies for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer, but scientists are discovering changes in the genes in these cancers that occur during the patient's lifetime. These changes are what transform normal cells into cancer cells.

Understanding these genetic changes will help doctors develop better methods of diagnosing this disease as well as treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects than ones currently available.

For example, researchers have found that many head and neck cancers have mutations (genetic changes) of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. These changes lead to additional mutations of other genes, which make the cells better able to grow and spread. Scientists are studying several gene therapies that target this gene.

Viral infections

Researchers have found signs that infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) may be part of the cause of some head and neck cancers. So far, there is no evidence that HPV infection contributes to cancers of the nose or sinuses.

Immunotherapy

Doctors are learning how to make the immune system of patients reacts against their cancers. For example, researchers are testing the effectiveness of immunotherapy that stimulates immune system cells to destroy cancer cells that contain certain substances. Because nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers are rare, this approach has not yet been tested much for these tumors. As new tumor antigens (substances that stimulate an immune response) are discovered and new ways to stimulate the immune system are developed, immunotherapy may assume a more prominent role in treating people with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer.

Radiation therapy

Clinical trials currently in progress are studying ways to make radiation therapy more effective by using radiosensitizers. These drugs make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Other studies are testing radioprotective agents. These drugs protect normal cells from damage by radiation and thereby reduce side effects of radiation therapy. Reducing side effects improves patients’ quality of life as well as helping them tolerate higher radiation doses that can kill more cancer cells.

Last Medical Review: 08/13/2009
Last Revised: 08/13/2009