Impact of Depth of Invasion in Node-Negative Oral Tongue Cancer Treated With Surgery Alone.

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is an aggressive malignancy and the most common subsite of head and neck cancer among Taiwanese males. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of depth of invasion (DOI) in patients with node-negative OTSCC treated with radical surgery alone. We retrospectively analyzed 243 patients with node-negative OTSCC who had undergone radical surgery with adequate margins between 2005 and 2017.

Prospective longitudinal study of patient-reported dysphagia in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy.

Purpose: To evaluate longitudinal changes in patient-reported dysphagia and identify its predictors in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Methods: Newly diagnosed, non-metastatic NPC patients were prospectively enrolled. The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) was administered at seven time points from baseline to 12 months post-IMPT.

ONC201 enhances the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin through ATF3/ATF4/CHOP in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a prevalent and challenging cancer to treat due to its genetic heterogeneity. Cisplatin resistance is one of important causes in treatment failure of locally advanced HNSCC. ONC201, a selective dopamine receptor D2 antagonist and mitochondrial ClpP agonist, has emerged as a potential antitumor agent in various malignancies.

Assessment of Preoperative Systemic Inflammation Response Index in Surgically Treated Young Head and Neck Cancer Patients Under 40.

Objectives: To assess the prognosis of young patients (≤40 years old) with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), focusing on the preoperative Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI).

Methods: Between January 2007 and February 2017, 175 young patients with HNSCC (≤40 years old) who underwent radical surgery were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (N = 131) and a validation cohort (N = 44).

Controlling nutritional status score as a survival prognosticator in patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: Patients with HNSCC who underwent radical surgery between 2008 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed and randomly divided into training and validation cohorts by 3:1 ratio. The CONUT score, based on serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte count measured within 1 week before surgery, was used.

ONC201 exerts oncogenic effects beyond its mitochondria-disturbing role in neuroblastoma subsets.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a formidable challenge in pediatric oncology due to its intricate molecular landscape, necessitating multifaceted therapeutic approaches. ONC201 is an imipridone antibiotic compound with a promising drug candidate leveraging its potent anticancer properties against the mitochondrial proteases ClpP and ClpX. Despite demonstrating early clinical promise, particularly in MYCN-amplified NB, its efficacy in non-MYCN-amplified NB remains a subject worthy of investigation.

The Involvement of CSRP1 in Neuroblastoma Differentiation and Apoptosis Impacting Tumor-Suppressive Therapeutic Responses.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric malignancy from the neural crest, where differentiation plays a key role in prognosis. We investigated cysteine and glycine-rich protein 1 (CSRP1) as a therapeutic target for NB, as it has been linked to differentiation and carcinogenesis in various cancers. Immunohistochemical analysis of archived NB samples showed a significant correlation between CSRP1 expression and differentiation.

Integrated multi-omics analyses of oral squamous cell carcinoma reveal precision patient stratification and personalized treatment strategies.

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a leading subtype of head and neck cancer, exhibits high global incidence and mortality rates. Despite advancements in surgery and radiochemotherapy, approximately one-third of patients experience relapse. To improve current targeted and immunotherapy strategies for recurrent OSCC, we conducted multi-omics analyses on pretreatment OSCC samples (cohorts 1 and 2, n = 137) and identified A3A and EGFR, both at the RNA and protein levels, as inversely expressed markers for patient stratification and response prediction.

Prognostic utility of neutrophil-to-albumin ratio in surgically treated oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: A total of 622 patients with surgically treated OSCC were enrolled. NAR was defined as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the serum albumin level in peripheral blood before the radical surgery.

Lymph node ratio as a survival predictor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with multiple adverse pathological features.

Background: The study investigates the prognostic significance of lymph node ratio (LNR) on patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with coexistence of multiple adverse pathological features.

Methods: In total, 100 patients with coexistence of perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and extranodal extension of first primary HNSCC treated with radical surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy were enrolled.

Results: The optimal LNR cut-off value for predicting overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) was 7%.

ONC201 Suppresses Neuroblastoma Growth by Interrupting Mitochondrial Function and Reactivating Nuclear ATRX Expression While Decreasing MYCN.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is characterized by several malignant phenotypes that are difficult to treat effectively without combination therapy. The therapeutic implication of mitochondrial ClpXP protease ClpP and ClpX has been verified in several malignancies, but is unknown in NB. Firstly, we observed a significant increase in ClpP and ClpX expression in immature and mature ganglion cells as compared to more malignant neuroblasts and less malignant Schwannian-stroma-dominant cell types in human neuroblastoma tissues.

Systemic and Local Effects Among Patients With Betel Quid-Related Oral Cancer.

The major predisposing factors of developing oral cancer include smoking, alcohol drinking, and betel quid chewing. Betel quid chewing could cause the abrasion and damage of oral mucosa by crude fibers, chemical insults by additive slaked lime, and arecoline from areca nut. These would lead to the local consequence of oral submucosal fibrosis, which is regarded clinically as a precancer lesion and a major cause of trismus.

The Prognostic Value of Preoperative Albumin-to-Alkaline Phosphatase Ratio on Survival Outcome for Patients With Locally Advanced Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

This retrospective cohort study was to assess the prognostic value of preoperative albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) on survival outcome for patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (LAOSCC). A total of 250 patients with LAOSCC receiving upfront radical surgery at a single institute from January 2008 to December 2017 were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the survival predictability of preoperative AAPR on the 5-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Prediction of Occult Contralateral Nodal Metastasis in Surgical Treated p16 Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: It is well known that p16 negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has a high probability of spreading to the ipsilateral neck. However, no consensus exists as to whether to perform elective treatment for clinical nodal negative in contralateral neck.

Methods: A total of 85 patients with p16 negative OPSCC who underwent primary tumor excision and bilateral neck dissections between 2005 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.

Patients of stage I oral cancer with pathologically low-risk feature managed by primary tumor resection alone: Impact of depth of invasion and a nomogram analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the importance of depth of invasion (DOI) in patients with pathologically low-risk feature stage I oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) managed by primary tumor resection alone.

Methods: Patients with stage I OSCC, at pathologically low risk, underwent primary tumor resection without neck dissection were enrolled retrospectively between 2007 and 2015. Low risk was defined as the absence of positive or close margins, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, worst pattern of invasion-5, and poor differentiation in histologic grade.

Acute radiation dermatitis among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with proton beam therapy: Prognostic factors and treatment outcomes.

A high incidence of severe acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) has been reported for cancer patients treated by proton beam therapy (PBT). This observational study investigated the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of ARD among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with PBT. Fifty-seven patients with newly diagnosed NPC and treated with PBT were enrolled.

Prognostic Value of Pathologically Positive Nodal Number in p16-Negative Oropharyngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with pN3b Status.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the number of pathologically positive nodes (pN+) in p16-negative oropharyngeal (OPSCC) and hypopharyngeal (HPSCC) squamous cell carcinoma cases with pN3b status after surgery. We reviewed the clinical and pathological features of 120 newly diagnosed p16-negative OPSCC and HPSCC patients with pN3b status after radical surgery. The primary endpoints were the 5-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and their prognostic factors.

Prognostic stratification of patients with AJCC 2018 pN1 disease in stage III oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Oral cancer with pT1-3N1 without extracapsular extension of the lymph node is classified as stage III according to the eighth edition of the AJCC staging system. Outcomes of a subgroup of patients classified as having stage III oral cancer with single nodal metastasis are observed to be various clinically. Therefore, such clinical outcomes for subgroup analyses in this cohort are necessary.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy plus cetuximab for previously irradiated un-resectable head and neck cancer.

Background: The aim of the study was to explore the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with previously irradiated but unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rHNSCC) treated by stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) plus cetuximab at a single institute in Taiwan.

Methods: From February 2016 to March 2019, 74 patients with previously irradiated but unresectable rHNSCC were treated with SBRT plus cetuximab. All patients received irradiation to the gross tumor and/or nodal area with 40-50 Gy in five fractions, with each fraction interval ≥2 days over a 2-week period by using the CyberKnife M6 machine.

Quality of Life as a Mediator between Cancer Stage and Long-Term Mortality in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) attained before, during, or after treatments is recognized as a vital factor associated with therapeutic benefits in cancer patients. This nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patient longitudinal study assessed the relationship among QoL, cancer stage, and long-term mortality in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Patients And Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core QoL questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the head and neck cancer-specific QoL questionnaire module (QLQ-HN35) were employed to evaluate four-dimensional QoL outcomes at five time points: pre- ( = 682), during (around 40 Gy) ( = 675), 3 months ( = 640), 1 year ( = 578) and 2 years post-IMRT ( = 505), respectively, for 682 newly diagnosed NPC patients treated between 2003 and 2017 at a single institute.

Stigma, depression, and anxiety among patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are vulnerable to psychiatric comorbidities, particularly anxiety and depression, and also suffer from cancer stigma. This study aimed to comprehensively compare HNC patients' stigma, depression, and anxiety, and elucidate the underlying relationships among them.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited inpatients with HNC from a medical center.

Targeting mTOR-CCL20 Signaling May Improve Response to Docetaxel in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) usually show a dismal prognosis. It is this worthwhile to develop new, effective therapeutic regimens for these patients, such as molecular targeted therapy, which is promising as an alternative or combination treatment for HNSCC. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of HNSCC, is the most frequently activated, and is thus worthy of further investigation.

Survival Outcomes and Predictors for Patients who Failed Chemoradiotherapy/Radiotherapy and Underwent Salvage Total Laryngectomy.

Background: To assess the presence of adverse pathological features at the time of salvage total laryngectomy (TL) associated with oncologic outcome.

Methods: Ninety patients with persistent/locally recurrent disease and who subsequently underwent salvage TL after definitive treatment by radiation alone (RTO) or concurrent chemo-radiation (CCRT) from 2009 to 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

Clinical significance of pretreatment prognostic nutritional index and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in patients with advanced p16-negative oropharyngeal cancer-a retrospective study.

Background: Systemic inflammation and nutritional status both play roles in the survival of cancer patients. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) on the survival of patients with advanced p16-negative oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: A total of 142 patients diagnosed with advanced p16-negative oropharyngeal cancer between 2008 and 2015 were enrolled in this study.