A Multi-Threshold Micelle Improves Tumor Accumulation and STING Immunotherapy.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a critical innate immune protein that potentiates anticancer immunity. An adjuvanted micelle, PC7A, directly binds to STING and coordinates robust immune signaling after local tumor delivery but is not optimized for intravenous administration. To improve systemic delivery, we engineered a hybrid, STING-activating micelle (HySTING) composed of an immune-stimulating polymer, PEG--PC7A (p = 6.

HYHOPE: A Phase 1 Study of Deintensified Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharynx Cancer.

Background: Various de-escalation strategies for human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx cancers are under investigation. We have incorporated hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) in a phase 1 study to assess the tolerability of dose and volume deintensified RT completed in 3 weeks with weekly cisplatin.

Methods And Materials: Patients with favorable oropharynx cancer, defined as T1-3, N0-2, p16 positive, and ≤10 pack-years, were enrolled using a rolling 6 design with 46.

Nodal Yield From Neck Dissection Predicts the Anti-Tumor Immune Response in Head and Neck Cancers.

Background: Lymph node count (LNC) from neck dissection has been associated with undernutrition and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). As local components of the immune system, cervical lymph nodes may reflect anti-tumor immune status. This study investigates the relationship between decreased LNC, formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), and primary tumor infiltration by lymphocytes in undernourished patients.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for T1 to T2 Glottic Larynx Cancer: Mature Results From the Phase 2 GLoTtic Larynx-SABR Trial.

Purpose: Traditional radiation therapy for early-stage larynx cancer irradiates the whole larynx over 5.5 to 6 weeks. Phase 1 data suggest that stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is a viable strategy to reduce the irradiated volume and compress treatment time.

Stepwise Ultra-pH-Sensitive Micelles Overcome a p Barrier for Systemic Lymph Node Delivery.

While local nanoparticle delivery to lymph nodes is well studied, there are few design criteria for intravenous delivery to the entire lymph node repertoire. In this study, we investigated the effect of NP pH transition on lymph node targeting by employing a series of ultra-pH-sensitive (UPS) polymeric micelles. The UPS library responds to pH thresholds (p 6.

An Ensemble Learning Method for Detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Polarized Hyperspectral Microscopic Imaging.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a high mortality rate. In this study, we developed a Stokes-vector-derived polarized hyperspectral imaging (PHSI) system for H&E-stained pathological slides with HNSCC and built a dataset to develop a deep learning classification method based on convolutional neural networks (CNN). We use our polarized hyperspectral microscope to collect the four Stokes parameter hypercubes (S0, S1, S2, and S3) from 56 patients and synthesize pseudo-RGB images using a transformation function that approximates the human eye's spectral response to visual stimuli.

Severely polarized extracellular acidity around tumour cells.

Extracellular pH impacts many molecular, cellular and physiological processes, and hence is tightly regulated. Yet, in tumours, dysregulated cancer cell metabolism and poor vascular perfusion cause the tumour microenvironment to become acidic. Here by leveraging fluorescent pH nanoprobes with a transistor-like activation profile at a pH of 5.

Polarized hyperspectral microscopic imaging system for enhancing the visualization of collagen fibers and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Significance: Polarized hyperspectral microscopes with the capability of full Stokes vector imaging have potential for many biological and medical applications.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate polarized hyperspectral imaging (PHSI) for improving the visualization of collagen fibers, which is an important biomarker related to tumor development, and improving the differentiation of normal and tumor cells on pathologic slides.

Approach: We customized a polarized hyperspectral microscopic imaging system comprising an upright microscope with a motorized stage, two linear polarizers, two liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs), and a compact SnapScan hyperspectral camera.

Long-term Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort Following Radiotherapy vs Surgery for Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Importance: Oncologic outcomes are similar for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with primary surgery or radiotherapy. However, comparative differences in long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between modalities are less well established.

Objective: To determine the association between primary surgery or radiotherapy and long-term PROs.

Efficacy and Quality-of-Life Following Involved Nodal Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The INRT-AIR Phase II Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Elective neck irradiation (ENI) has long been considered mandatory when treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with definitive radiotherapy, but it is associated with significant dose to normal organs-at-risk (OAR). In this prospective phase II study, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of eliminating ENI and strictly treating involved and suspicious lymph nodes (LN) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC of the oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx were eligible for enrollment.

Patient-Reported Financial Toxicity in a Population-Based Cohort of Oropharynx Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are at high risk for financial toxicity (FT), but the nature, extent, and predictors of FT experienced after primary radiation therapy (RT) or surgery are poorly understood.

Methods And Materials: We used a population-based sample of patients from the Texas Cancer Registry with stage I to III OPSCC diagnosed from 2006 to 2016 and treated with primary RT or surgery. Of 1,668 eligible patients, 1,600 were sampled, 400 responded, and 396 confirmed OPSCC.

Automatic detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on pathologic slides using polarized hyperspectral imaging and deep learning.

The study is to incorporate polarized hyperspectral imaging (PHSI) with deep learning for automatic detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue slides. A polarized hyperspectral imaging microscope had been developed in our group. In this paper, we firstly collected the Stokes vector data cubes (S0, S1, S2, and S3) of histologic slides from 17 patients with SCC by the PHSI microscope, under the wavelength range from 467 nm to 750 nm.

Polarized hyperspectral microscopic imaging for collagen visualization on pathologic slides of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

We developed a polarized hyperspectral microscope to collect four types of Stokes vector data cubes (S0, S1, S2, and S3) of the pathologic slides with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our system consists of an optical light microscope with a movable stage, two polarizers, two liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs), and a SnapScan hyperspectral camera. The polarizers and LCVRs work in tandem with the hyperspectral camera to acquire polarized hyperspectral images.

Lactate increases stemness of CD8 + T cells to augment anti-tumor immunity.

Lactate is a key metabolite produced from glycolytic metabolism of glucose molecules, yet it also serves as a primary carbon fuel source for many cell types. In the tumor-immune microenvironment, effect of lactate on cancer and immune cells can be highly complex and hard to decipher, which is further confounded by acidic protons, a co-product of glycolysis. Here we show that lactate is able to increase stemness of CD8 T cells and augments anti-tumor immunity.

Smoking and other patient factors in HPV-mediated oropharynx cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To characterize the significance of patient-level influences, including smoking history, on oncologic outcomes in human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).

Materials And Methods: A bi-institutional retrospective cohort study of previously untreated, HPV+ OPC patients who underwent curative treatment from 1/1/2008 to 7/1/2018 was performed. The primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS) and the primary exposure was ≤10 versus >10-pack-year (PY)-smoking history.

Adherence to the American Cancer Society Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline According to Chart Review: A Nested Retrospective Cohort Pilot Study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore adherence to the American Cancer Society (ACS) Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Survivorship Care Guideline and their outlined 33 recommendations among posttreatment HNC survivors.

Methods: A bi-institutional, retrospective, nested cohort study of mucosal or salivary gland HNC survivors diagnosed in 2018 was designed. Guideline adherence was assessed via retrospective chart review between 0 and 13 months after completion of oncologic treatment according to 4 categories: (1) problem assessed, (2) problem diagnosed, (3) management offered; (4) problem treated.

Long-term opioid use in patients treated with head and neck intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Purpose: Acute and chronic pain during and after radiotherapy is an important driver of poor quality of life. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with increased chronic opioid use in head and neck squamous cell cancer survivors.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis on head and neck squamous cell cancer patients treated with definitive or adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Automatic detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on histologic slides using hyperspectral microscopic imaging (Erratum).

The erratum corrects the name of the first author listed in a reference cited.

Automatic detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on histologic slides using hyperspectral microscopic imaging.

Significance: Automatic, fast, and accurate identification of cancer on histologic slides has many applications in oncologic pathology.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for automatic detection of head and neck cancer nuclei in histologic slides, as well as cancer region identification based on nuclei detection.

Approach: A customized hyperspectral microscopic imaging system was developed and used to scan histologic slides from 20 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Pilot Study of a Wearable Activity Monitor During Head and Neck Radiotherapy to Predict Clinical Outcomes.

Purpose: Given the established associations between performance status and survival in a variety of cancers, there is significant interest in using a biometric wearable device (WD) to predict outcomes in the oncology population. In this pilot study, we investigated the ability of a WD to predict meaningful clinical end points in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy.

Methods: Patients receiving head and neck definitive chemoradiotherapy or postoperative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy were enrolled in this pilot study, designed to show 90% compliance with using the device.

Survival and disease progression following solitary locoregional recurrence after head and neck radiotherapy.

Purpose: The management of solitary locoregional recurrence (sLRR) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) previously treated with radiotherapy (RT) is challenging. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with improved outcome.

Methods: We identified patients treated with non-sinus, mucosal HNSCC who initially received IMRT.

Clinical and Biologic Characteristics and Outcomes in Young and Middle-Aged Patients With Laryngeal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Objective: To describe the clinical and biologic characteristics and outcomes of young and middle-aged (YMA; <65 years) patients according to the presence or absence of traditional risk factors for laryngeal cancer.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: Single-institution academic medical center.

Automatic detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on pathologic slides using polarized hyperspectral imaging and machine learning.

The aim of this study is to incorporate polarized hyperspectral imaging (PHSI) with machine learning for automatic detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue slides. A polarized hyperspectral imaging microscope had been developed in our group. In this paper, we imaged 20 H&E stained tissue slides from 10 patients with SCC of the larynx by the PHSI microscope.