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Oncology Reports Mar 2024Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. HNSCC develops from the mucosa of the oral cavity, pharynx and...
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. HNSCC develops from the mucosa of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Methylation levels of septin 9 () and short stature homeobox 2 () genes in circulating cell‑free DNA (ccfDNA) are considered epigenetic biomarkers and have shown predictive value in preliminary reports in HNSCC. Liquid biopsy is a non‑invasive procedure that collects tumor‑derived molecules, including ccfDNA. In the present study, a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)‑based assay was developed to detect DNA methylation levels of circulating and in the plasma of patients with HNSCC. The assay was first set up using commercial methylated and unmethylated DNA. The dynamic changes in the methylation levels of and were then quantified in 20 patients with HNSCC during follow‑up. The results highlighted: i) The ability of the ddPCR‑based assay to detect very low copies of methylated molecules; ii) the significant decrease in and methylation levels in the plasma of patients with HNSCC at the first time points of follow‑up with respect to T; iii) a different trend of longitudinally DNA methylation variations in small groups of stratified patients. The absolute and precise quantification of and methylation levels in HNSCC may be useful for studies with translational potential.
Topics: Humans; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; DNA Methylation; Genes, Homeobox; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Homeodomain Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Cell-Free Nucleic Acids; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Biomarkers, Tumor
PubMed: 38299234
DOI: 10.3892/or.2024.8711 -
Factors Influencing Postoperative Prognosis in Patients with Hypopharyngeal and Laryngeal Carcinoma.Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Dec 2023Despite the increasingly modern surgical techniques in the oncology field, the factors that influence postoperative prognosis in patients with hypopharyngeal and...
OBJECTIVES
Despite the increasingly modern surgical techniques in the oncology field, the factors that influence postoperative prognosis in patients with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma (HLC) remain unclear. The study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the prognosis of HLC patients with pathological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, and the findings are intended to direct follow-up management strategies.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was performed. The study population included 407 postoperative patients with HLC from 2011 to 2015. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the prognostic factors identified.
RESULTS
Based on univariate analysis results, smoking and alcohol history, tumor differentiation, preoperative radiotherapy, primary tumor sites, flap reconstruction, lymph node invasion (LNI), and preoperative albumin levels (PAL) significantly affects the prognosis of HLC patients ( < .05). Meanwhile, multivariate analysis revealed that smoking pack-year (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 1.001 ∼ 1.003), primary tumor sites (OR = 6.241, 95% CI = 1.715 ∼ 18.433), LNI (OR = 2.869, 95% CI = 1.095 ∼ 8.743), and PAL (OR = .020, 95% CI .004 ∼ 0.104) were associated with complications. Tumor differentiation (OR = 0.650, 95% CI = .383 ∼ 0.855), primary tumor sites (OR = 12.392, 95% CI = 3.290 ∼ 26.679), LNI (OR = 16.323, 95% CI = 2.726 ∼ 47.729), preoperative radiotherapy (OR = 9.300, 95% CI = 3.182 ∼ 27.181), and PAL (OR = .321, 95% CI .141 ∼ .732) were associated with overall survival rates.
CONCLUSION
Smoking and alcohol history, tumor differentiation, LNI, primary tumor sites, flap reconstruction, PAL, and preoperative radiotherapy are crucial factors that influence the postoperative prognosis of patients with HLC. In addition, a monogram of five factors was established to predict the survival rates of HLC patients.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Prognosis; Hypopharynx; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 36427261
DOI: 10.1177/01455613221142120 -
International Journal of Surgical... Aug 2023Adenoid basal carcinoma (ABC) is rare cancer with a favorable prognosis. However, some ABCs are associated with other histological types, such as squamous cell... (Review)
Review
Adenoid basal carcinoma (ABC) is rare cancer with a favorable prognosis. However, some ABCs are associated with other histological types, such as squamous cell carcinoma. Here, we present a case of a mixed tumor of ABC and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the cervix, with a detailed immunohistochemical study and literature review. We describe a case of a 66-year-old woman who underwent cervical cancer screening that led to the detection of a 0.7 cm nodular lesion. Cervical punch biopsies revealed a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Cervical conization revealed a mixed carcinoma composed of ABC and ACC, showing stromal invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and positive resection margins. Immunohistochemically, the ACC components were positive for KIT and αSMA and negative for NKX3.1. The tumor presented with proficient mismatch repair (MMR) and was negative for HER2, PD-L1, and TRKA (NTRK1). Subsequent radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection revealed the presence of residual tumor cells in the cervix. Our literature review identified six similar cases, including one patient who died of disease recurrence. We report a rare tumor comprising both ABC and ACC. Prognostic data on mixed tumors are scarce; however, given the aggressive nature of ACC, attention should be paid to the detection of mixed tumors. Since ABC and ACC histology may overlap, adequate sampling and IHC for detecting ACC would be helpful.
Topics: Female; Humans; Aged; Cervix Uteri; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Adenoids; Early Detection of Cancer; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
PubMed: 36452999
DOI: 10.1177/10668969221134691 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Previous observational epidemiological studies reported an association between cathepsins and cancer, however, a causal relationship is uncertain. This study evaluated...
BACKGROUND
Previous observational epidemiological studies reported an association between cathepsins and cancer, however, a causal relationship is uncertain. This study evaluated the causal relationship between cathepsins and cancer using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
METHODS
We used publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for bidirectional MR analysis. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used as the primary MR method of MR analysis.
RESULTS
After correction for the False Discovery Rate (FDR), two cathepsins were found to be significantly associated with cancer risk: cathepsin H (CTSH) levels increased the risk of lung cancer (OR = 1.070, 95% CI = 1.027-1.114, = 0.001, = 0.009), and CTSH levels decreased the risk of basal cell carcinoma (OR = 0.947, 95% CI = 0.919-0.975, = 0.0002, P = 0.002). In addition, there was no statistically significant effect of the 20 cancers on the nine cathepsins. Some unadjusted low P-value phenotypes are worth mentioning, including a positive correlation between cathepsin O (CTSO) and breast cancer (OR = 1.012, 95% CI = 1.001-1.025, = 0.041), cathepsin S (CTSS) and pharyngeal cancer (OR = 1.017, 95% CI = 1.001-1.034, = 0.043), and CTSS and endometrial cancer (OR = 1.055, 95% CI = 1.012-1.101, = 0.012); and there was a negative correlation between cathepsin Z and ovarian cancer (CTSZ) (OR = 0.970, 95% CI = 0.949-0.991, = 0.006), CTSS and prostate cancer (OR = 0.947, 95% CI = 0.902-0.944, = 0.028), and cathepsin E (CTSE) and pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.963, 95% CI = 0.938-0.990, = 0.006).
CONCLUSION
Our MR analyses showed a causal relationship between cathepsins and cancers and may help provide new insights for further mechanistic and clinical studies of cathepsin-mediated cancer.
Topics: Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Cathepsins; Neoplasms; Genome-Wide Association Study; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Female; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38883596
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1428433 -
Cancer Reports (Hoboken, N.J.) Nov 2023Head and neck cancer (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous group of cancers, affecting multiple regions such as oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and nasal region, each showing a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Head and neck cancer (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous group of cancers, affecting multiple regions such as oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and nasal region, each showing a distinct molecular profile. HNSCC accounts for more than 6 million cases worldwide, soaring mainly in the developing countries.
RECENT FINDINGS
The aetiology of HNSCC is complex and multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors. The critical role of microbiome, which includes bacteria, viruses, and fungi, is under spotlight due to the recent reports on their contribution in the development and progression of HNSCC. This review focuses on the effect of opportunistic pathogens on the host genome and epigenome, which contributes to the disease progression. Drawing parallels from the host-pathogen interactions observed in other tumour types arising from the epithelial tissue such as colorectal cancer, the review also calls attention to the potential explorations of the role of pathogens in HNSCC biology and discusses the clinical implications of microbiome research in detection and treatment of HNSCC.
CONCLUSION
Our understanding of the genomic effects of the microbes on the disease progression and the mechanistic insights of the host-pathogen interaction will pave way to novel treatment and preventive approaches in HNSCC.
Topics: Humans; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Epigenome; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37322598
DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1846 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) development is strongly associated with risk factors like smoking, chronic alcohol consumption, and the living environment,...
Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) development is strongly associated with risk factors like smoking, chronic alcohol consumption, and the living environment, but also chronic human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, which can trigger cascade cellular changes leading to a neoplastic transformation. The prevalence of these factors differs among different world regions, and the prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of OPSCC are highly dependent on them. We performed a retrospective study on 406 patients diagnosed with OPSCC in our region that were classified according to the tumor type, localization and diagnosis stage, demographic characteristics, risk factors, and histological and immunohistochemical features. We found that most of the patients were men from urban areas with a smoking habit, while most of the women in our study were diagnosed with tonsillar OPSCC and had a history of chronic alcoholism. During the immunohistochemical study, we analyzed the tumor immunoreactivity against anti-p16 and anti-HPV antibodies as markers of HPV involvement in tumor progression, as well as the correlation with the percentage of intratumoral nuclei immunomarked with the anti-Ki 67 antibody in serial samples. We observed that the percentage of Ki67-positive nuclei increased proportionally with the presence of intratumoral HPV; thus, active HPV infection leads to an increase in the rate of tumor progression. Our results support the implementation of strategies for OPSCC prevention and early diagnosis and can be a starting point for future studies aiming at adapting surgical and oncological treatment according to the HPV stage for better therapeutic results.
PubMed: 37623944
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12080984 -
BMJ Case Reports May 2024To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest case series describing the use of a melolabial flap for postlaryngectomy pharyngoplasty. It is an excellent alternative...
To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest case series describing the use of a melolabial flap for postlaryngectomy pharyngoplasty. It is an excellent alternative for pharyngoplasty, especially in cases post chemoradiotherapy. It accomplishes the goal while removing the restrictions of local and distant flaps. Although donor site morbidity is acceptable, specific consent is required due to the possibility of functional and cosmetic impairment. Additional cases with a larger sample size and a longer follow-up period can assist corroborate our first findings. In addition, because we tend to protect facial vessels for this flap, a follow-up about the compromise of oncological safety at level IB is required. In our case series, however, there was no recurrence until the final follow-up. As a result, it is a better option to pharyngoplasty post laryngectomy.
Topics: Humans; Laryngectomy; Male; Surgical Flaps; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Pharynx; Pharyngectomy; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female
PubMed: 38724213
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-257763 -
Auris, Nasus, Larynx Jun 2024Transoral surgery is a minimally invasive treatment but may cause severe dysphagia at a lower rate than chemoradiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Transoral surgery is a minimally invasive treatment but may cause severe dysphagia at a lower rate than chemoradiotherapy.
METHODS
We compared clinical information, surgical complications, and swallowing function in patients who underwent transoral nonrobotic surgery for laryngo-pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma between 2015 and 2021 in a multicenter retrospective study.
RESULTS
Six hundred and forty patients were included. Postoperative bleeding was observed in 20 cases (3.1%), and the risk factor was advanced T category. Postoperative laryngeal edema was observed in 13 cases (2.0%), and the risk factors were prior radiotherapy, advanced T stage, and concurrent neck dissection in patients with resected HPC. Dysphagia requiring nutritional support was observed in 29 cases (4.5%) at 1 month postoperatively and in 19 cases (3.0%) at 1 year postoperatively, respectively. The risk factors for long-term dysphagia were prior radiotherapy and advanced T category. Short-term risk factors for dysphagia were prior radiotherapy, advanced T category, and concurrent neck dissection, while long-term risk factors for dysphagia were only prior radiotherapy and advanced T category.
CONCLUSION
Prior radiotherapy, advanced T stage, and concurrent neck dissection increased the incidence of postoperative laryngeal edema and short-term dysphagia, but concurrent neck dissection did not affect long-term dysphagia. Such features should be considered when considering the indication for transoral surgery and postoperative management.
Topics: Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Deglutition Disorders; Female; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Aged; Postoperative Complications; Neck Dissection; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Risk Factors; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Neoplasm Staging; Adult; Laryngeal Edema; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Aged, 80 and over; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery
PubMed: 38547566
DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2024.03.005 -
Experimental Oncology Dec 2023To the Editor, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HN- SCC) accounts for about 600,000 new cases globally every year and stands the sixth most common cancer, arising...
To the Editor, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HN- SCC) accounts for about 600,000 new cases globally every year and stands the sixth most common cancer, arising from the squamous epithelium. It is localized in the head and neck area involving oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Despite the rigorous therapy, the 5-year overall survival remains poor in HNSCC and has not changed appreciably in the last 30 years. The majority of patients develop resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, and cancer progression occurs. Cetuximab, which targets the epidermal growth factor receptor, and pembrolizumab, an anti-programmed-death ligand 1 antibody, are among few FDA-approved medications. Current therapies are poor and cause severe long-term toxicity, which has a long-term impact on the quality of life [1].......
Topics: Humans; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Quality of Life; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Carcinogenesis; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Epigenesis, Genetic
PubMed: 38186015
DOI: 10.15407/exp-oncology.2023.03.393