Q&A: Jennifer De Los Santos, MD, Highlights Head and Neck Cancer

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to highlight a set of cancers that 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society. These cancers most commonly include those of the tongue; tonsils and throat behind the mouth; and gums, floor of the mouth and other parts of the mouth.

Remembering the recent passing of actor Val Kilmer due to laryngeal cancer, Jennifer De Los Santos, MD, a WashU Medicine radiation oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, talks about warning signs and raising awareness.

 

Tell us a little about these cancers and symptoms and other information we should be aware of.

Dr. De Los Santos: Head and neck cancers, including laryngeal cancer, can present with symptoms of sore throat, hoarse voice, ear pain and a mass in the neck. These cancers, which affect the throat, voice box and mouth, are often delayed in detection, as symptoms are often attributed to an upper respiratory infection. If patients do not have insurance or a primary care provider, diagnosis can be delayed even further.

 

What is laryngeal cancer?

Dr. De Los Santos: Laryngeal cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the larynx, also known as the voice box. The larynx is a part of the throat located between the back of the mouth and the trachea (windpipe) at the level of the thyroid cartilage (sometimes called the Adam’s apple). It plays a crucial role in breathing and speaking because it houses the vocal cords.

 

What are some risk factors for this cancer?

Dr. De Los Santos: The most common ones include:

• Tobacco use – Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes is the single largest risk factor for laryngeal cancer. Both smoking and chewing tobacco can increase the risk.
• Alcohol consumption – Heavy drinking of alcohol, particularly when combined with smoking, significantly raises the risk of laryngeal cancer. Alcohol can irritate the lining of the larynx and make it more susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of tobacco.
• Exposure to certain chemicals – Occupational exposure to industrial chemicals such as asbestos or sulfuric acid has been linked to an increased risk of laryngeal cancer.
• Marijuana use – New data suggest that marijuana use may also be associated with the development of head and neck cancer.

 

WashU Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology is at the forefront of the fight against head and neck cancers. Could you elaborate on some of the leading-edge treatments you’re working on?

Dr. De Los Santos: Absolutely. Our department is proud to be pioneering several promising treatment options. In particular, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and targeted treatments have made huge strides in improving outcomes for our patients. Tailoring radiation therapy to each patient can help control or even eliminate cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Immunotherapy is also showing great promise, particularly in helping the immune system recognize and fight cancer. Targeted therapies, which focus on specific genes or proteins involved in cancer growth, are another exciting area.

 

That’s amazing progress. Please talk about the importance of preserving patients’ voices, especially for those undergoing procedures like laryngectomy, and how technology is playing a role.

Dr. De Los Santos: For many patients, especially those with laryngeal cancer, losing the ability to speak is a devastating consequence. One of our main goals is not only to combat the cancer but also to preserve the patient’s quality of life. With advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, we are investigating tools that can help patients communicate more effectively after procedures like a laryngectomy. AI-driven devices are being developed to create more natural-sounding speech, and they hold tremendous potential for improving a patient’s ability to engage in day-to-day life. This technology is transformative, offering an option that may both improve communication and preserve the patient’s natural voice.

 

It sounds like there’s so much hope on the horizon. How can people help support the critical research and advances you’re making at WashU Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center?

Dr. De Los Santos: Some of the best ways to support our work is through advocacy and spreading awareness. This includes promoting early detection – for example, by encouraging people with ongoing symptoms to seek follow-up care if antibiotics don’t help. The second is by recognizing the real difference that breakthrough discoveries can make. Val Kilmer’s legacy of advocacy is a powerful example of how one person’s story can inspire change, and we hope that this month, and beyond, people will join us in our mission to improve outcomes for patients battling head and neck cancers. Together, we can make a significant difference.

Learn more about multidisciplinary care and research at the Head and Neck Tumor Center at Siteman.

Jennifer De Los Santos, MD

WashU Medicine radiation oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine