Call for papers - Head and neck cancer: resistance and novel therapeutic targets

Guest Editors

József Dudás, PhD, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
Alexander Rühle, MD, MHBA, University Medical Center Leipzig, Germany

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 1 December 2025

BMC Cancer is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Head and neck cancer: resistance and novel therapeutic targets." This Collection invites researchers to contribute original studies on head and neck cancer, focusing on treatment resistance and novel therapeutic targets. We encourage submissions that explore the underlying mechanisms of resistance, advances in treatment strategies, and innovative therapeutic approaches that aim to improve patient outcomes. Through this initiative, we aim to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration in the quest for more effective solutions to combat head and neck cancer.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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József Dudás, PhD, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

Dr József Dudás is a senior scientist in the department of otorhinolaryngology at the Medical University of Innsbruck. His work involves clinical and translational cancer research with a particular focus on inflammatory cytokines, the extracellular matrix, head and neck oncology, cell-cell interactions, fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells, and cancer stem cells, among other topics. He is also the Head and Neck Subgroup Chair of the Pathobiology Subgroup of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

Alexander Rühle, MD, MHBA, University Medical Center Leipzig, Germany

Dr Alexander Rühle is a radiation oncologist at the University Medical Center Leipzig, Germany. He earned his MD at the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, in 2019 and completed his residency at the University Medical Centers in Freiburg and Leipzig. In 2023, he obtained his Habilitation (Privatdozent) from the University of Freiburg and now serves as an attending physician in Leipzig. His research primarily focuses on head and neck cancer, with a special emphasis on the challenges of treating older patients and managing oligometastatic disease. Additionally, his work investigates the tumor microenvironment, including tumor hypoxia, and the role of the immune system - particularly mesenchymal stromal cells - in cancer progression and treatment response.

About the Collection

Head and neck cancer (HNC) encompasses a diverse group of malignancies arising in the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx, often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in treatment modalities, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, many patients experience treatment resistance, leading to disease recurrence and poor outcomes. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this resistance is crucial for developing more effective therapies. This Collection aims to explore these mechanisms and the identification of novel therapeutic targets that could enhance treatment efficacy in HNC.

Addressing treatment resistance in head and neck cancer is pivotal for improving patient prognosis and quality of life. Recent advancements in precision medicine and immunotherapy have opened new avenues for HNC treatment, offering hope for patients who have limited options due to resistance to conventional therapies. Research has revealed potential biomarkers for predicting treatment response and has highlighted the significance of the tumor microenvironment in mediating resistance. As the field evolves, there is an urgent need to integrate these findings into clinical practice to optimize treatment strategies.

Continued research in this area holds the promise of discovering groundbreaking therapeutic approaches and overcoming resistance mechanisms. Future studies could lead to the development of combination therapies that synergize existing treatments with novel agents, personalized medicine strategies tailored to individual patient profiles, and improved understanding of the interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment. These advances have the potential to significantly enhance survival rates and improve the quality of life for patients with head and neck cancer.

Molecular biology of head and neck cancer
Mechanisms of treatment resistance in head and neck cancer
Novel therapeutic targets for head and neck cancer
Advances in immunotherapy for head and neck cancer
Prognostic factors and Biomarkers for predicting treatment response
Study protocol and clinical trials of therapies against head and neck cancer

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Head and neck cancer: resistance and novel therapeutic targets" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.