New atlas that charts tumor cell diversity could guide personalized therapy for head and neck cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are the seventh-most prevalent form of cancer and are associated with human papilloma virus infection (HPV-positive) or with tobacco and alcohol use (HPV-negative). HPV-negative HNSCCs have a high recurrence rate, and patients' responses to treatment vary greatly because tumors and their microenvironments are highly heterogeneous.