Despite advancements in the treatment of oral cancer, cancer survival rates remain low, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies targeting cancer stem-like cells. Cancer stem-like cells are a small population of cancer cells within tumors that drive recurrence and metastasis. They are often resistant to conventional treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Allergy Clin Immunol Glob
May 2025
Background: There is no information about the clinical implications and kinetics of zinc (Zn) in the nasal cavity, a center of allergic inflammation, and serum in subjects with allergic rhinitis (AR).
Objective: Effects of intranasal Zn on symptoms before and after allergen provocation were investigated in humans and mice with or without AR.
Methods: The first clinical follow-up study for Zn levels in nasal epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and serum was conducted in 57 control subjects and 44 patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), a representative seasonal AR, from preseason to season.
The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in cancer development. We recently reported that in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) is abundantly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), leading to CAF activation and inhibition of CD8 + T cell infiltration. In the present study, we investigated whether AEBP1 contributes to the destruction and atrophy of muscle tissues in OSCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
September 2024
Many RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are linked to the dysregulation of RNA metabolism in motor neuron diseases (MNDs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MN vulnerability have yet to be elucidated. Here, we found that such an RBP, Quaking5 (Qki5), contributes to formation of the MN-specific transcriptome profile, termed "MN-ness," through the posttranscriptional network and maintenance of the mature MNs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLaryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol
June 2024
Introduction: In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the congestion and blockage of the nose can cause anaerobic conditions within the sinus cavities which may promote the expression of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in invading pathogens. is a facultative anaerobic bacteria and causes severe recalcitrant CRS. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance of isolates of CRS patients in planktonic and biofilm form grown in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Aberrant Notch signaling pathway has been related with the tumorigenesis in head and neck region, involving oral cavity. Here, we report the correlation between mutations in the Notch signaling pathway and CD8 T-cell infiltration via PD-L1, which lead to enhanced antitumor immunity and may target for immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy.
Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the results of immunohistochemical staining for PD-L1 and CD8 T-cell infiltration in 10 patients and whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted on five of these patients to identify frequently mutated genes.
We previously showed that upregulation of adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 () in vascular endothelial cells promotes tumor angiogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the role of stromal /ACLP expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that ACLP is abundantly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in primary OSCC tissues and that upregulated expression of ACLP is associated with disease progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), the response to ICIs remains unclear.
Aims/objectives: To summarize the clinical outcomes of patients with HNSCC treated with nivolumab (Nivo) in our institution, and provide a basis for research on biomarkers that can predict the efficacy of ICIs.
Material And Methods: Forty-four patients with R/M HNSCC who received Nivo (2017-2022) were retrospectively analysed.
We report a case of diverticulum of the buccal mucosa. A 56-year-old man had a small pouch-shaped lesion behind the parotid papilla that caused pain and food impaction. After resection, the lesion was histopathologically diagnosed as diverticulum without buccal muscle tear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of the current study was to elucidate the clinicopathological significance and appearance of in vitro three-dimension (3D) spheroid models of oral malignant tumors that were prepared from four pathologically different squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC; low-grade; SSYP and MO-1000, intermediate-grade; LEM2) and oral adenosquamous carcinoma (OASC; high-grade; Mesimo) obtained from patients with different malignant stages. To characterize the biological significance of these cell lines themselves, two-dimensional (2D) cultured cells were subjected to cellular metabolic analysis by a Seahorse bioanalyzer alongside the measurement of the cytotoxicity of cisplatin (CDDP). The appearance of their 3D spheroids was then observed by phase contrast microscopy, and both 2D and 3D cultured cells were subject to trypsin digestion and qPCR analysis of factors related to oncogenic signaling and other related analyses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe mortality rate of oral cancer has not improved over the past three decades despite remarkable advances in cancer therapies. Oral cancers contain a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that share characteristics associated with normal stem cells, including self-renewal and multi-differentiation potential. CSCs are tumorigenic, play a critical role in cancer infiltration, recurrence, and distant metastasis, and significantly contribute to drug resistance to current therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS) is an RNA-binding protein, and its mutations are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), through the DNA damage stress response, aberrant stress granule (SG) formation, etc. We previously reported that translocation of endogenous FUS into SGs was achieved by cotreatment with a DNA double-strand break inducer and an inhibitor of DNA-PK activity. In the present study, we investigated cytoplasmic SG formation using various fluorescent protein-tagged mutant FUS proteins in a human astrocytoma cell (U251) model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays a pivotal role in the progression of various malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, we aimed to clarify the biological and clinical significance of CXCL12 in the tumor microenvironment of OSCCs.
Methods: Publicly available single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets were used to analyze CXCL12 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).
Objectives: We evaluated the accuracy of estimating the cross-sectional area (CSA) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) based on the CSA at the third cervical vertebra (C3) using computed tomographic images, and we identified the sources of error and bias using the evaluation of absolute reliability in 89 Japanese patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Methods: Skeletal muscle CSA was measured at the C3 and L3 on pretreatment computed tomographic images. We used the CSA at the C3 to estimate CSA at the L3 in an existing prediction formula.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol
September 2022
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical and histopathologic effects of neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy (IACRT) using cisplatin in combination with oral S-1 (tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil potassium) on stage III and IV oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Study Design: Thirty patients received infusions of superselective intra-arterial cisplatin 60 mg/m by the Seldinger method and conventional external beam radiotherapy (total 40 Gy) combined with oral S-1 on the day of irradiation. Curative surgery and neck dissection were performed 4 to 6 weeks after IACRT.
Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol
June 2022
Background: The advance of endoscopic surgery has enabled selective section of the postganglionic nerve branches from pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG) as a modification of the vidian neurectomy. Recent microanatomic studies have suggested that the nasal mucosa is also innervated by multiple efferent rami associated with the sphenopalatine artery (SPA) in the procedure "posterior nasal neurectomy." This anatomic cadaveric study aims to identify all postganglionic nerve fibers in the lateral nasal wall which should inform future surgical procedures aimed at interrupting these nerve fibers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Allergy Clin Immunol
November 2022
Background: Patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) regularly exhibit severe nasal polyposis. Studies suggest that chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by excessive fibrin deposition associated with a profound decrease in epithelial tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Retinoids, including vitamin A and its active metabolite retinoic acid (RA), are necessary for maintaining epithelial function and well-known inducers of tPA in endothelial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Pharmacol
January 2022
Eosinophilic chronic sinusitis (ECRS) is a subtype of CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) that is frequently comorbid with asthma. Notably, ECRS patients often show a high recurrence of NPs after surgical resection. Leptin is a hormone produced by adipocytes that has been implicated in airway inflammatory diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTraditionally, cadaveric courses have been an important tool in surgical education for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). The recent COVID-19 pandemic, however, has had a significant global impact on such courses due to its travel restrictions, social distancing regulations, and infection risk. Here, we report the world-first remote (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) FESS training course between Japan and Australia, utilizing novel 3D-printed sinus models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are deeply involved in cancer development. We previously reported that DLEU1 (deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 1) is one of the lncRNAs overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, where it exhibits oncogenic activity. In the present study, we further clarified the molecular function of DLEU1 in the pathogenesis of OSCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrimellitic anhydride (TMA) is a chemical agent classified as a low molecular weight (LMW) agent causing occupational rhinitis (OR) or asthma. Although TMA is recognized as a respiratory sensitizer, the direct and non-immunologic effects of TMA remain unclear. Air- liquid interface (ALI) cultured human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) derived from control subjects were treated with TMA, followed by measurement of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), paracellular permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran and immunofluorescence of tight junction proteins claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnticancer Res
September 2021
Background/aim: The role of tumour-infiltrating CD45Ro T-cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate prognostic biomarkers for OSCC.
Patients And Methods: We determined the density of tumour-infiltrating CD45Ro T cells in the parenchyma and stroma at the tumour centre (TCe) and invasive front (IF) and examined the association between the density of these cells and histopathological status in 142 patients.