Rasmus Blomkvist

Doctoral project: Predictive Markers for Laryngeal Cancer

Principal supervisor: Linda Marklund

Co-supervisors: Björn Palmgren, Lalle Hammarstedt Nordenvall, Antti Mäkitie

Research project – background, aim and methods

Laryngeal cancer is a head and neck malignancy with outcomes that vary according to tumor stage. Survival in advanced disease has not improved substantially over recent decades. My doctoral project aims to identify clinically useful markers and methods to improve risk assessment and treatment selection in laryngeal cancer. The project comprises retrospective cohort studies of treatment outcomes, tumor characteristics, and postoperative complications, as well as a prospective clinical study evaluating sentinel node mapping in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. The aim of my research is to identify clinically useful markers and methods that can optimize treatment strategies for patients with advanced laryngeal cancer, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment outcomes and survival.

My research focuses on laryngeal cancer, with particular interest in prognostic factors, treatment outcomes, and strategies to improve individualized cancer care. My doctoral project comprises four substudies. The first studies investigate treatment outcomes in laryngeal cancer, the association of radiological tumor volume and cartilage invasion with local recurrence in T3 laryngeal cancer, and risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy. The ongoing fourth substudy is a prospective clinical study evaluating sentinel node mapping in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. It aims to assess the feasibility of the technique and characterize lymphatic drainage patterns to improve understanding of its potential clinical application. In the longer term, this research may support more individualized management of cervical lymph nodes, potentially reducing treatment-related morbidity without compromising oncological safety.