Head and neck cancer during pregnancy

International audience ; Background:The incidence of cancer during pregnancy is low but is slightly increas-ing. Data on incidence and etiology of head and neck (HN) cancers in pregnantwomen are rare. We evaluated the frequency, tumor type, associated factors, and spe-cific biomarkers in HN cancers occurring in pregnant (and peripartum) women.Methods:A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, for any HNtumor site occurring in pregnant women.Results:Sixty cases of HN cancers occurring during pregnancy were identified.Most of them were oral cavity cancers. Relationships with oncogenic viruses, hor-monal disturbance, and shift in maternal immunity profile were identified.Conclusion:Carcinogenesis of HN cancers in pregnant women may be led by dif-ferent cancer type–specific hallmarks. Relevance of these etiological factors withrespect to treatments and birth control recommendations is being investigated bythe REFCOR in an ambispective study.