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Cancers May 2024The United States is suffering from an epidemic associated with high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) predominantly responsible for the development of head...
The United States is suffering from an epidemic associated with high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) predominantly responsible for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand PD-L1 has shown poor efficacy in HNSCC patients, observing only a 20-30% response. Therefore, biological marker identification associated with PD-1 blockade response is important to improve prognosis and define novel therapeutics for HNSCC patients. Therapy response was associated with increased frequencies of activated CD27T cells, activated CD79a B cells, antigen-presenting CD74 dendritic and B cells, and PD-L1 and PD-L2 myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The oral microbiota composition differed significantly in mice bearing tongue tumors and treated with anti-PD-1. A higher abundance of , , , or was associated with response to the therapy. However, an increase in was attributed to tongue tumor-bearing non-responding mice. Our findings indicate that differences in immune phenotypes, protein expression, and bacterial abundance occur as mice develop tongue tumors and are treated with anti-PD-1. These results may have a clinical impact as specific bacteria and immune phenotype could serve as biomarkers for treatment response in HNSCC.
PubMed: 38893183
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112065 -
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck... 2024Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with radiation-based therapy suffer from short- and long-term toxicities that affect quality of life...
A Descriptive Study of Quality of Life Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Transoral Robotic Surgery for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with radiation-based therapy suffer from short- and long-term toxicities that affect quality of life (QOL). Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has an established role in the management of early OPSCC but adjuvant treatment is often indicated postoperatively due to the high incidence of nodal metastasis associated with advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-related OPSCC. To overcome the need for adjuvant radiation therapy (RT), neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by TORS and neck dissection (ND) is proposed. This study aimed to assess if QOL in HPV-associated OPSCC receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by TORS and ND returns to baseline within 12 months of completing treatment.
METHODS
A 12 month longitudinal study was carried out at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, among a convenience sample of patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer Seventh Edition stage III and IVa HPV-related OPSCC who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by TORS and ND. QOL data were obtained pretreatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following treatment completion using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core and Head and Neck extension modules. Paired tests and mixed models for repeated measures analysis were used to assess changes in QOL from baseline to 12 months postoperatively and over time, respectively.
RESULTS
Nineteen of 23 patients (median age 58 years) who received the study treatment fulfilled the eligibility criteria. OPSCC subsites were palatine tonsil (n = 12) and base of tongue (n = 7). All 19 patients were treated per protocol and none required adjuvant RT as per pathology review and protocol requirements at a postoperative multidisciplinary team tumor board discussion. No significant differences were found when comparing 12 month QOL follow-up scores to pretreatment scores in measures that would likely be affected by RT [eg, swallowing ( = .7), social eating ( = .8), xerostomia ( = .9)].
CONCLUSION
In HPV-related OPSCC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by TORS and ND as definitive treatment is associated with excellent QOL outcomes. Postoperative QOL scores returned to baseline by 3 months and were maintained for all measures, indicating a return to normal function.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Papillomavirus Infections; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Longitudinal Studies; Neck Dissection; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Adult; Human Papillomavirus Viruses
PubMed: 38888957
DOI: 10.1177/19160216241248670 -
Cureus Jun 2024Immunotherapy has been shown to provide clinical benefit in selected patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), regardless of human papillomavirus...
Immunotherapy has been shown to provide clinical benefit in selected patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), regardless of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and including recurrent/metastatic (R/M) platinum refractory tumors. Hyperprogression is an uncommon negative outcome of treatment with immunotherapy. We present the case of a patient with HPV+ HNSCC who presented hyperprogression after immunotherapy and a rare metastasis location with peritoneal carcinomatosis and subcutaneous nodules. HPV+ HNSCC is related to distant recurrence after a longer interval of time and more diverse metastasis sites compared with HPV- disease. However, the literature on peritoneal metastasis in HNSCC remains limited, with few documented cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reporting peritoneal carcinomatosis after hyperprogression in HNSCC.
PubMed: 38887752
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62509 -
Journal of Medical Virology Jun 2024Head and neck cancers (HNCs), primarily head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV), notably HPV16 and... (Review)
Review
Head and neck cancers (HNCs), primarily head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV), notably HPV16 and HPV18. HPV status guides treatment and predicts outcomes, with distinct molecular pathways in HPV-driven HNSCC influencing survival rates. HNC incidence is rising globally, with regional variations reflecting diverse risk factors, including tobacco, alcohol, and HPV infection. Oropharyngeal cancers attributed to HPV have significantly increased, particularly in regions like the United States. The HPV16 genome, characterized by oncoproteins E6 and E7, disrupts crucial cell cycle regulators, including tumor protein p53 (TP53) and retinoblastoma (Rb), contributing to HNSCC pathogenesis. P16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a reliable surrogate marker for HPV16 positivity, while in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, notably reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), offer sensitive HPV detection. Liquid-based RT-qPCR, especially in saliva, shows promise for noninvasive HPV detection, offering simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and patient compliance. These molecular advancements enhance diagnostic accuracy, guide treatment decisions, and improve patient outcomes in HNC management. In conclusion, advances in HPV detection and molecular understanding have significant clinical management implications. Integrating these advancements into routine practice could ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Papillomavirus Infections; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Human papillomavirus 16; Papillomaviridae; Human papillomavirus 18; Human Papillomavirus Viruses
PubMed: 38884391
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29746 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Comparative evaluation of arterial blood gas in patients with stridor, before and after emergency tracheostomy. The present prospective study was conducted in tertiary...
Comparative evaluation of arterial blood gas in patients with stridor, before and after emergency tracheostomy. The present prospective study was conducted in tertiary care Centre from February 2022 to June 2023 on 42 patients who presented with stridor and underwent emergency tracheostomy in our department. After proper history taking and clinical examination, nonsurgical cause of stridor was ruled out. Patients were then classified on the basis of location of cause of stridor (whether oropharyngeal, hypo-pharyngeal, supra-glottic, glottic or sub-glottic). Immediately an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis was done, and emergency tracheostomy was performed. Following tracheostomy, ABG analysis was done immediately, after 12 h and after 24 h. The mean age of presentation of stridor in our study was 65.02 ± 3.23 years, with male preponderance (Male: female ratio being 3.66:1). Most common etiology of stridor in our study was glottic carcinoma comprising 50%, and least common etiology of stridor was hypopharyngeal carcinoma, and subglottic stenosis comprising 2.4% each. There was statistically significant normalization of ABG in terms of pH, PO2, PCO2, HCO3. Mean pH, PO2, PCO2, and HCO3 before tracheostomy were 7.31, 74.8, 60.6, and 29.8 respectively. Mean pH, PO2, PCO2, HCO3, immediately after tracheostomy were7.38, 91.3, 48.4, and 27.4 respectively. After 12 h of tracheostomy, mean pH, PO2, PCO2, HCO3 were 7.41, 95.4, 42.7, 25.3 respectively. Mean pH, PO2, PCO2, HCO3 24 h after emergency tracheostomy were 7.441, 95.5, 42.8, 24.6 respectively. Emergency tracheostomy in stridor patients improves the acid base and ventilatory status, by relieving the obstruction as evidenced by statistically significant improvement in arterial blood gas values, and can be used as a diagnostic tool in upper airway obstruction.
PubMed: 38883467
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-04456-z -
Cureus May 2024Acute arterial hemorrhage is a damaging and sometimes lethal complication that occurs in patients with head and neck cancer. However, achieving hemostasis can be...
Acute arterial hemorrhage is a damaging and sometimes lethal complication that occurs in patients with head and neck cancer. However, achieving hemostasis can be challenging because of the difficulty in applying pressure in the throat and oral cavity. In this context, endovascular treatment (ET) has been performed in recent years. This report aims to describe the benefits of ET for acute bleeding. Additionally, our findings emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of tumor-related bleeding, not only for immediate life-saving benefits but also for the potential resumption of irradiation and chemotherapy, which can lead to favorable long-term prognoses in some instances. We describe two cases of primary tumor bleeding where treatment was successful with ET. Neurosurgeons performed these treatments, and effective hemostasis was achieved in both cases. No complications or rebleeding were observed. ET is a better option for hemorrhage from oropharyngeal tumors than for hemorrhage from the main trunk of the carotid artery. The efficacy of ET is dependent on the vessels involved, and early identification of the culprit artery can predict the prognosis. ET should be considered an option for acute arterial hemorrhage in head and neck cancer.
PubMed: 38883033
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60483 -
Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi [Chinese... Jun 2024To analyze the location, discovery time and possible causes of cases of cervical cystic lymph node metastasis with an unknown primary misdiagnosed as branchial cleft...
To analyze the location, discovery time and possible causes of cases of cervical cystic lymph node metastasis with an unknown primary misdiagnosed as branchial cleft carcinoma. A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical and pathological data of 15 patients misdiagnosed as branchiogenic carcinoma at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between January 2000 and December 2020. Among the 15 patients, 6 were nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 4 tonsil squamous cell carcinoma, 2 tongue root squamous cell carcinoma, 2 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and 1 thyroid papillary carcinoma. The median time from the diagnosis of branchial cleft carcinoma to the discovery of primary lesions was 3.58 months (0-76 months). The causes of misdiagnosis might be the lack of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of branchial cleft carcinoma, and not enough attention to comprehensive examination and close follow-up. Different from oropharyngeal cancer reported internationally, the proportion of misdiagnosed cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma as the primary site in the current article is higher. As a country with a high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the examination of nasopharynx should not be taken lightly. Most hidden cases can be found in the comprehensive examination in a short time, while a few cases need long-term follow-up. Finding the primary sites should not rely too much on imaging examination, and we cannot ignore the importance of clinical physical examination.
Topics: Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Retrospective Studies; Diagnostic Errors; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary; Branchioma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Adult; Lymph Nodes; Neck; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Tonsillar Neoplasms; Aged; Tongue Neoplasms; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38880737
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112152-20231024-00248 -
Oral Oncology Aug 2024
Topics: Humans; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Genomic Instability; Papillomavirus Infections; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Virus Integration; Papillomaviridae
PubMed: 38880007
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106895 -
Radiotherapy and Oncology : Journal of... Jun 2024Preclinical research demonstrated that the exposure of microbubbles (intravascular gas microspheres) to focussed ultrasound within the targeted tumour upregulates...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Preclinical research demonstrated that the exposure of microbubbles (intravascular gas microspheres) to focussed ultrasound within the targeted tumour upregulates pro-apoptotic pathways and enhances radiation-induced tumour cell death. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided focussed ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles (MRgFUS-MB) for head and neck cancers (HN).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This prospective phase 1 clinical trial included patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent HN cancer (except nasopharynx malignancies) for whom locoregional radiotherapy with radical- or palliative-intent as deemed appropriate. Patients with contraindications for microbubble administration or contrast-enhanced MR were excluded. MR-coupled focussed ultrasound sonicated intravenously administered microbubbles within the MR-guided target volume. Patients receiving 5-10 and 33-35 radiation fractions were planned for 2 and 3 MRgFUS-MB treatments, respectively. Primary endpoint was toxicity per CTCAEv5.0. Secondary endpoint was tumour response at 3 months per RECIST 1.1 criteria.
RESULTS
Twelve patients were enrolled between Jun/2020 and Nov/2023, but 1 withdrew consent. Eleven patients were included in safety analysis. Median follow-up was 7 months (range, 0.3-38). Most patients had oropharyngeal cancer (55 %) and received 20-30 Gy/5-10 fractions (63 %). No systemic toxicity or MRgFUS-MB-related adverse events occurred. The most severe acute adverse events were radiation-related grade 3 toxicities in 6 patients (55 %; dermatitis in 3, mucositis in 1, dysphagia in 6). No radiation necrosis or grade 4/5 toxicities were reported. 8 patients were included in the 3-month tumour response assessment: 4 had partial response (50 %), 3 had complete response (37.5 %), and 1 had progressive disease (12.5 %).
CONCLUSIONS
MRgFUS-MB treatment was safe and associated with high rates of tumour response at 3 months.
PubMed: 38879128
DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110380 -
Oral Oncology Aug 2024Clinical and imaging examinations frequently have indeterminate results during cancer surveillance, which can lead to overtreatment and cause psychological and financial...
OBJECTIVES
Clinical and imaging examinations frequently have indeterminate results during cancer surveillance, which can lead to overtreatment and cause psychological and financial harm to the patient. This study addresses the critical need to enhance diagnostic precision and decision-making in the management of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. This study evaluated the utility of tumor tissue-modified viral (TTMV)-HPV DNA to resolve indeterminate disease status following definitive treatment for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this retrospective cohort, patients treated for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer at eight U.S. institutions and who received one or more TTMV-HPV DNA tests during post-treatment surveillance between February 2020 and January 2022 were included.
RESULTS
Among 543 patients, 210 patients (38.7%; 210/543) experienced one or more clinically indeterminate findings (CIFs) during surveillance, with 503 CIFs recorded. Of those patients with an "indeterminate" disease status at a point during surveillance, 79 were associated with contemporaneous TTMV-HPV DNA testing. TTMV-HPV DNA testing demonstrated high accuracy (97.5%; 77/79) in correctly determining recurrence status. Patients whose disease status was "indeterminate" at the time of a positive TTMV-HPV DNA test were clinically confirmed to recur faster than those whose disease status was "no evidence of disease." Only 3% of patients (17/543) experienced indeterminate TTMV-HPV DNA tests during surveillance. Discordance between TTMV-HPV DNA tests and clinical results was minimal, with only 0.6% (3/543) of patients showing positive tests without recurrence.
CONCLUSION
Our findings support the utility of circulating TTMV-HPV DNA in resolving indeterminate disease status and informing the subsequent clinical course.
Topics: Humans; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Female; Male; Middle Aged; DNA, Viral; Retrospective Studies; Papillomavirus Infections; Aged; Papillomaviridae; Adult
PubMed: 38878355
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106874