Sex hormones in gender-specific risk for head and neck cancer: A review

Despite the fact that numerous researches have been carried out to prevent head and neck cancer (HNC) and treat those patients, there is no reduction in morbidity rate because the underlying molecular pathogenesis is still poorly understood. Endocrine microenvironment is another vital factor besides other traditional risk factors like tobacco smoking, infections, and alcohol. It has been proven that sex hormone receptors are also expressed in larynx and lungs, in addition to sex organs. Sex hormones play a vital role in gene expression involved in the plethora of biological and neoplastic processes. The role of sex hormones in HNC is still divisive and very few researches have been conducted to describe their role. So, this article is an effort to attract the attention of researchers, endocrinologists, pathologists, and clinicians toward the impending role of sex hormones, with special emphasis on progesterone, estrogen, and prolactin in HNC onset and progression, along with their therapeutic role.