RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood and tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.

PURPOSE: This research study is looking at blood and tissue samples from patients with larynx cancer, pharynx cancer, or oral cavity cancer.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Characterize, morphologically and molecularly, squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, pharynx, or oral cavity in patients without high-risk factors, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, or occupation.

Secondary

• Study the impact parameters of morphology, molecular characteristics, and genomics on disease-free survival and overall survival of these patients.
• Study the impact parameters of morphological, molecular, and genomic control in the tumor.
• Assess, in advanced tumors, the risk of heterogeneity of morphological, molecular, and genomic control in the tumor.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Blood, tumor tissue, and healthy tissue samples are collected before treatment begins.

Patients are followed up every 3 months for 2 years (additional biopsies may be collected).

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, pharynx, or oral cavity

• No risk factors of alcohol consumption, smoking, or occupational hazards such as asbestos, hydrocarbons, paints, nickel, stone dust, or wood dust.

  • Must be a life-time non-smoker, not a former smoker

• Measurable disease by RECIST criteria

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• WHO performance status 0-1
• No other serious concomitant medical conditions precluding general anesthesia
• No psychological, familial, social, or geographical reasons that would preclude follow up

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified