Preface

The idea for this research book ‘Head and Neck Cancer and Hallmark of Inflammation ecosystem’was cultivated during an assembly with the international experts at one of Academy of Science Malaysia scientific events. This research bookaims to highlight the significant roles of inflammation in head and neck malignancy. This entails the screening, diagnosis, treatment as well as follow-up schemes of head and neck cancer patients. Now, we know that the inflammation is the 7^th hallmark of malignancy, and it has intimate relationship with the development and promotion of carcinogenesis, dictates the behaviour of cancer and may responsible for recurrent and metastatic disease.

Inflammation is significant, and the scope of this book is wide and encompasses all critical issues faced by clinicians, researchers, students, and other health-related personnel in managing head and neck malignancies. The book provides details on inflammation and its interaction in an ecosystem. Myriads of newly emerging inflammatory markers are interacting within a cohesive system in promoting carcinogenesis, tumour recurrent and metastases. Understanding these exquisite roles of inflammation may also serve for the development of potent therapeutic agents at the near future.

The chapters are nicely arranged with a start on a description of head and neck malignancy and its’ types, followed by the risk factors where roles of inflammation in discovered and discussed in great depth. The inflammatory markers that are commonly studied which involved in the pathogenesis of head and neck malignancy are elaborated. Roles of specific inflammatory markers, especially in patient’s stratification, prognosis, and survival, are pivotal, hence deserve critical attention from the scientific community.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ms. Fariya Zulfiqar for her continuous commitment and dedicated work as well as to all managing team at Bentham Science for their relentless support. This book will be a great addition to current scientific literature on head and neck malignancy, especially in relation to the significant roles of inflammation.