American Head & Neck Society

Advancing Education, Research, and Quality of Care for the Head and Neck oncology patient.

Published on by AHNS Webmaster

AHNS Endocrine Section Webinar

On behalf of the AHNS Endocrine Surgery Section we are pleased to invite you to a free Endocrine Section Webinar – the second in our Webinar Educational Series.

Please register on this link for the free webinar and note that CME is now available!!

Here is the link to register in advance for Webinar:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpc-GspzwuGNTTBkK8Wn5mwHmPB0oUnRaa

August 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM in Pacific Standard Time (US and Canada)

Also please stay tuned …we have some very interesting international webinar programs coming up over the next several months.

 

Published on by AHNS Webmaster

AHNS 2021 International Conference

AHNS Call For Abstracts is Now Open

Submission Deadline: 

December 4, 2020 – 5:00 PM PT

You are invited to submit abstracts to the AHNS 10th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer: “Survivorship through Quality and Innovation” taking place on July 22-25, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

All abstracts, even if previously submitted and accepted will undergo the standard peer review process. Please submit new or previously submitted abstracts for the conference next summer, as long as it complies with the following paragraph. 

No Previously Published/Presented Submissions (Encore Abstracts): The abstract submitted must present original work that has not and will not be published or presented prior to the AHNS 10th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer, and shall not be under review for publication prior to the AHNS 10th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer except by permission from the AHNS Program Chair. The exception to this rule is that a manuscript may be submitted to JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery for special meeting related consideration only after the abstract has been accepted by AHNS for presentation. 

To submit your abstracts, please click this link.

NOTE: ALL content authors are required to disclose any financial relationship(s) with an ACCME-defined commercial interest(“industry”). AHNS considers the presenter of a proffered paper to be in control of the content. Thus, employees of commercial interests may not be the presenter for abstracts submitted to AHNS meetings.

If you have any questions, please contact the AHNS office at 310-437-0559 x 118 or by email at [email protected]. 

Sincerely,

AHNS Abstract Services

Published on by AHNS Office

World Robotic Symposium 2020

This 4-day virtual event will bring together the world’s most innovative leaders in robotic surgery from all corners of the globe. Medical experts and academics across 14 different specialties will present talks on the latest ground-breaking robotic surgery techniques, tools, and technology.

Drs. Umamaheswar Duvvuri and J. Scott Magnuson, are co-chairing the Head & Neck concurrent sessions at the World Robotic Symposium on Saturday, August 1st. Click the banners above for more information, the full schedule and registration.

Published on by Cherie-Ann Nathan

AHNS Leadership

AHNS Leadership Convenes Via Zoom

In a parallel universe, we would have just concluded our 10th International Conference in Chicago. As you are all aware, this conference is postponed until next summer, where hopefully we will meet in person.  However, conducting the business of the society is still a priority of many of the AHNS leaders and even the global pandemic did not stop the AHNS Council from meeting and discussing the initiatives and action items our services and sections have been working on (please click here to see the AHNS Council donning our fashionable masks).

I wanted to briefly update you on the work and progress of our leaders, as it’s vast and impressive! It wouldn’t be possible without their dedication and commitment to the mission of our society.

Some of the AHNS initiatives include:

  • Advanced Training Council continuation of curriculum education for our fellows
  • Upcoming webinars from various sections and services, including potential CME credits, to help provide education for our members
  • Special symposium on Ethics and COVID-19 during COSM
  • Abstract opening (part 2!) for our International Conference next summer
  • A renewed patient education initiative that will involve all six sections
  • Increased social media campaigns
  • Special forums and bulletin board on COVID-19
  • An increased number of guidelines and position statements, endorsed by the AHNS
  • Awarding of research grants, awards and mentoring partnerships
  • And more international collaboration!

As it turns out, and as no surprise, surgeons are even more productive during a global crisis.  Thank you to the AHNS Council, Service Chairs, Section Leaders and Representatives and to all members who are coming together to produce impactful work for our specialty. If you have any suggestions for the society or would like to become more involved, please reach out to our Executive Director, Christina Kasendorf, at [email protected].

Stay safe and well,
Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD
AHNS President

Cherie-Ann Nathan

Cherie-Ann Nathan

Dr. Cherie-Ann Nathan is a leading head and neck cancer surgeon. She is Prof. & Chair of the Dept. of Oto/HNS &the Director of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Cancer Research, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Louisiana State University Health - Shreveport (LSU Health Shreveport). The National Cancer Institute has funded her translational research since 2000 and her focus is on targeted therapy for head and neck patients. Dr. Nathan is recognized nationally and internationally for her seminal work on molecular analysis of surgical margins. She has pioneered multi-institutional clinical trials using mTOR inhibitors in HNSCC patients. She has also received NIH funding for chemoprevention of cancer with curcumin and has a patent for a curcumin chewing gum. More recently she also received an NCI grant on cutaneous Squamous cell cancer.  She serves on the NCI head and neck steering committee and the American Cancer Society HPV steering committee. Dr. Nathan has published extensively, has over 180 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and has authored multiple textbooks and encyclopedia chapters. She is married to Dr. Raghu Nathan, a pulmonary and critical eye care specialist with whom she has two boys.
Cherie-Ann Nathan

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Published on by Stephen Lai

NRG-HN006 Trial

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy versus Elective Neck Dissection for Early-Stage Oral Cavity Cancer: Activation of the NRG-HN006 Trial

For patients with early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), there is a 20-30% risk for occult metastatic cervical disease despite clinical and radiographic ima Tirging. The debate surrounding management of the node-negative neck has spanned multiple decades initially centered around elective neck dissection (END) versus “watchful waiting” with subsequent therapeutic neck dissection. Recently, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLN Bx) has emerged as a viable option for active management of the node-negative neck in these patients.

NRG Oncology has just activated a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-approved international, multi-institutional prospective trial comparing SLN Bx versus END for early-stage oral cavity cancer. The study is NRG-HN006 “Randomized Phase II/III Trial of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Elective Neck Dissection for Early-Stage Oral Cavity Cancer.” (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04333537)

The trial divides patients to two surgical arms, SLN Bx and END, following a PET/CT scan with a central reading as an integral biomarker supported by the NCI. The trial builds upon the recent results of the ACRIN 6685 trial, which demonstrated the relatively high negative predictive value of PET/CT for neck disease in patients with T2-4N0 head and neck cancers. Patients with a positive central read of their PET/CT for neck disease will still have their neck pathology results recorded to understand the functional performance of PET/CT in accurately assessing neck nodal status.

Patients with a negative central read of their PET/CT for neck disease will be randomized to the two surgical arms with stratification based on T-stage and performance status (Zubrod). The Phase II portion of the trial will test the hypothesis that SLN biopsy will have superior patient-reported neck and shoulder function and quality of life (QOL), as measured by the Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII), compared to END at 6 months post-surgery. Comparing the difference in the two arms from baseline and 6 months will serve to determine the “Go/No-Go” decision to proceed to Phase III. Phase III has co-primary endpoints and will test the hypothesis that SLN Bx will achieve non-inferior disease-free survival (DFS) compared to END, and that SLN Bx will have superior patient-reported neck and shoulder function and QOL, as measured by the NDII.

NRG-HN006 has an ambitious patient accrual target of 224 patients for Phase II who will be included as part of the 618 patients total for Phase III. The trial represents an opportunity to address the performance of SLN Bx and END in a definitive manner relative to QOL and patient survival. The collection of high-quality prospective data in this study will also permit the assessment of issues that continue to be raised with regard to extent of treatment for early-stage OCSCC, including extent of END, distribution of occult metastatic disease, and practice variations in adjuvant radiation therapy.

Site activation is currently in process and additional details, including the complete protocol, can be obtained here: CTSU website. Surgeon credentialing will require completion of an education course and case review. Please feel free to contact the study PI at [email protected] if you have additional questions and/or issues.