Aims 

The initial aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of centralisation in head & neck cancer and also to create a population-based, comprehensive, longitudinal biomedical resource in people with head and neck cancer.

 

Objectives

The overall objective of the study was to recruit a clinical cohort of 5,000 people with head & neck cancer and then follow up this cohort.

 

Specifically, the initial objectives were to:

  • Compare morbidity and mortality outcomes across different centres.
  • Compare quality of life outcomes across different centres.
  • Describe the individual economic cost of head and neck cancer care.
  • Identify prognostic indicators for head and neck cancer.
  • Create a resource for translational and applied research in head and neck cancer.

 

Update on aims and objectives

We successfully created a clinical cohort of over 5,000 people with head & neck cancer that we are now following up. We described the centralised multi-disciplinary head and neck cancer service in the UK. However, preliminary analysis suggests there is little variation between centres so we are unlikely to be able to evaluate the impact that centralisation has had on how well people do after their treatment. We have established a resource for head and neck cancer research and the information gathered from the study is making an important contribution to research in to the cause, development and outcome of head and neck cancer.