Head and Neck Cancers
The Head and Neck Cancer Research Group aims to increase the understanding of the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer and the translation of these findings into clinical practice.
Our research
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and increasingly caused by infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). The Head and Neck Cancer Research Group at the UCL Cancer Institute mainly focuses on HPV-associated head and neck cancer, oral HPV screening, and the genomic and epigenomic analysis of rare head and neck cancers. The group has close links with the UCLH Clinical Trials Centre, HPV Tumour Biology group, UCL Centre for Sexual Health and HIV research, and is part of the UCL HPV Interest Group.
The UCL/UCLH Head and Neck Tissue Bank 'Genetic Variations in Tumour Growth Promoting Genes'
The Head and Neck Tissue Bank is a prospective collection of tissue samples from the head and neck region. The collection of these samples is in progress and patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures at UCLH are encouraged to take part in this study. Samples are used for the establishment of in vitro and xenograft in vivo models.
Clinical trials in Head and Neck Cancer at UCL/UCLH
These trials include ORCA2 and PATRIOT.
Circulating biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer
This project aims to evaluate circulating tumour cells and other circulating biomarkers within a range of head and neck malignancies.
Immunology in Head and Neck Cancer
Collaboration with Prof. Sergio Quezada.
HER family signalling in Head and Neck Cancer
Collaboration with Prof. Tony Ng.
Select publications
- Liu J, Bewicke-Copley H, Patel S, Emanuel O ... Forster MD, et al. Exploring targets in oropharyngeal cancer - association with immune markers and AI-scoring of B7-H3 expression. Clin Transl Med. 2025 Mar;15(3): e70265.
- Karamchandani S, Sahovaler A, Crosbie-Jones E ... Forster MD, et al. Incidence and predictive factors for positive non-sentinel lymph nodes in completion neck dissection following a positive sentinel node biopsy in early oral cancer. Oral Oncol. 2024 Dec;159: 107081.
- Krebs MG, Forster M, Majem M, et al. Eftilagimod Alpha (a Soluble LAG-3 Protein) Combined With Pembrolizumab in Second-Line Metastatic NSCLC Refractory to Anti-Programmed Cell Death Protein 1/Programmed Death-Ligand 1-Based Therapy: Final Results from a Phase 2 Study. JTO Clin Res Rep. 2024 Aug 30;5(11): 100725.
- Saraswathula A, Ullah MN, Liu J ... Forster MD, et al. International, Multi-Institutional Evaluation of Practice Patterns and Outcomes for Recurrent and Metastatic Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base.
- Forster M, Brana I, Pousa AL, et al. Eftilagimod Alpha (Soluble LAG3 Protein) Combined with Pembrolizumab as Second-Line Therapy for Patients with Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2024 Sep 3;30(17): 3726-3734.
