Sinonasal cancer and head and neck cancer multimodal and multicentre analysis

Project lead

Team members

Why this matters 

Rare cancers are often difficult to diagnose and may have overlapping features under the microscope. Delayed or incorrect diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment and poorer outcomes. 

By combining different types of data, we aim to improve diagnostic accuracy and identify clinically meaningful cancer subgroups. 

Our aims 

We aim to: 

• Improve classification of rare sinonasal and head and neck cancers. 
• Combine clinical, pathological, molecular, and outcome data. 
• Identify biomarkers linked to prognosis and treatment response. 
• Support development of improved staging systems. 
• Enable international collaboration for rare cancer research. 
• Translate molecular and epigenetic tools into future clinical practice.  

Key research areas 

Molecular and epigenetic classification 

Our work explores how genomic and DNA methylation-based approaches can help classify rare tumours into clinically relevant subgroups. 

International datasets 

Through collaborations with international networks, we contribute to some of the largest datasets on rare sinonasal and skull base cancers. 

Rare tumour studies 

The group has contributed to major international studies on rare tumours including: 

• Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma 
• Olfactory neuroblastoma 
• Sinonasal mucosal melanoma 
• Nasopharyngeal cancer 
• Skull base tumours 
• Brain cancers  

Collaboration 

This workstream is closely linked with international networks including EUSICA and INSICA, supporting multicentre studies and global data sharing. 

Impact 

The goal is to improve diagnostic precision, identify better prognostic markers, guide treatment decisions, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients with rare sinonasal and head and neck cancers. 

Key Publications  

1. Liu J, Tang A, Rehman U … Lund VJ, Lechner M. Survivorship in Tumors of the Sinonasal Tract: The Need for Improved Awareness, Patient Education, and an Emphasis on Multi-Disciplinary Care. Cancers (Basel). 2025 May 15;17(10):1666.
2. Liu J, Takahashi Y, Rehman U … Counsell N, Lechner M, et al. Outcomes for Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC): An International Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel). 2026 Jan 24;18(3):366.
3. London NR Jr, Hanna GJ, Akhave NS … Woods RSR, Verillaud B, Lechner M. International Network for Sinonasal Cancer Research (INSICA): A Collaborative Group to Advance Research and Clinical Trials for Rare Sinonasal Malignancies. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2025 Dec 17:djaf366.
4. Hermsen M, Bossi P, Capper D … Lechner M. The European Network for Sinonasal Cancer Research (EUSICA) – A Pan-European Initiative Targeting a Group of Orphan Tumours. Eur J Cancer. 2024 May;202:113939.
5. Kuan EC, Wang EW, Adappa ND, Beswick DM … Lechner M, et al. International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2024 Feb;14(2):149-608.
6. Frampton GM, Fichtenholtz A, Otto GA … Lechner M, et al. Development and Validation of a Clinical Cancer Genomic Profiling Test Based on Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing. Nat Biotechnol. 2013 Nov;31(11):1023-1031.
7. Capper D, Jones DTW, Sill M … Lechner M, et al. DNA Methylation-Based Classification of Central Nervous System Tumours. Nature. 2018 Mar 22;555(7697):469-474.
8. Steele CD, Abbasi A, Islam SMA … Lechner M, et al. Signatures of Copy Number Alterations in Human Cancer. Nature. 2022 Jun;606(7916):984-991.
9. Bossi P, Hermsen M, Lechner M, Franchi A. Precision Medicine in Rare Tumors and the Need for Multicenter Trials and International Collaboratives: Sinonasal Cancer as Paradigm. Oral Oncol. 2020 Oct;109:104737.
10. Lechner M, Takahashi Y, Turri-Zanoni M, et al. Clinical Outcomes, Kadish-INSICA Staging and Therapeutic Targeting of Somatostatin Receptor 2 in Olfactory Neuroblastoma. Eur J Cancer. 2022 Feb;162:221-236.

Funding