Gastric adenocarcinoma predictive long intergenic noncoding RNA (GAPLINC) promotes oral cancer stemness by acting as a molecular sponge of miR331-3p.

Background/purpose: Accumulating evidence has suggested that treatment failure of cancer therapy can be attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs). Among numerous regulators of cancer stemness, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained significant attention recently. In this study, we examined the role of gastric adenocarcinoma predictive long intergenic noncoding RNA (GAPLINC) in oral CSCs (OCSCs).

LINC01296 promotes cancer stemness traits in oral carcinomas by sponging miR-143.

Background/purpose: Emerging evidence has shown that various failures in cancer therapy, such as drug resistance, metastasis, and cancer relapse are attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs). Also, growing attention has been paid to the regulation of non-coding RNAs in cancer stemness. Here, we aimed to investigate the contribution of LINC01296 in the modulation of oral CSCs.

miR-21 promotes the fibrotic properties in oral mucosa through targeting PDCD4.

Background/purpose: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) has been regarded as a premalignant disorder of oral cancer, and myofibroblasts are the main cells that are responsible for pathological fibrosis. Hence, elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying myofibroblast activation is important to treat OSF. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is a well-known fibrosis non-coding RNA, and its role in the development of OSF remains largely unclear.

miR-509 inhibits cancer stemness properties in oral carcinomas via directly targeting PlK1.

Background/purpose: Oral cancer is one of the common cancers worldwide. Emerging evidence has indicated that microRNAs (non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides in length) are implicated in the regulation of cancer stemness. However, the functional role of microRNA-509 (miR-509) in the characteristics of oral cancer stem cells (CSCs) has not been unraveled.

The volume of proximal bone projection can determine the osseous contour after immediate implant placement and guided bone regeneration in severe labial bony deficiency.

Anterior immediate implant placement (IIP) has many biological and esthetic challenges, including inevitable soft and hard tissue loss after extraction. Previous literatures have discussed the facial bone architecture and defective socket classification. However, none of them discussed the depression of the cervical root area which can be seen frequently after IIP in type IIB and U-shaped defective sockets.

Down-regulation of miR-29c promotes the progression of oral submucous fibrosis through targeting tropomyosin-1.

Background/purpose: Various microRNAs (miRs) have been found to be associated with the development of the precancerous condition of the oral cavity, oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). The expression of miR-29c is dysregulated in oral cancer, but its role in OSF has not been investigated. The purpose of the study is to investigate the functional role of miR-29c and its target in OSF.

Paeonol inhibits profibrotic signaling and HOTAIR expression in fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts.

Background/purpose: Betel nut chewing is the major risk factor of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Various studies have sought to discover alternative strategies to alleviate oral fibrogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-fibrosis effect of paeonol, a phenolic component derived from Paeonia Suffruticosa.

Honokiol inhibits arecoline-induced oral fibrogenesis through transforming growth factor-β/Smad2/3 signaling inhibition.

Background/purpose: The habit of areca nut chewing has been regarded as an etiological factor of precancerous oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-fibrosis effect of honokiol, a polyphenolic component derived from Magnolia officinalis.

Methods: The cytotoxicity of honokiol was tested using normal and fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs) derived from OSF tissues.

Definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy or surgery for early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Propensity-score-matched, nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Background: No evidence is currently available to estimate the outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and surgery for patients with early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (E-OCSCC).

Methods: We recruited patients from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database who had received a diagnosis of E-OCSCC. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze all-cause mortality.

Definitive radiotherapy or surgery for early oral squamous cell carcinoma in old and very old patients: A propensity-score-matched, nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Purpose: Although patients aged >70 years are subject to early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (E-OCSCC), evidence is currently lacking regarding the probable outcomes of definitive radiotherapy (RT) compared to surgery in this population.

Methods: We recruited patients aged ≥70 years with a diagnosis of E-OCSCC from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional-hazards model curves were used to analyze all-cause mortality of patients at different age intervals undergoing different treatments.

LINC00963 Promotes Cancer Stemness, Metastasis, and Drug Resistance in Head and Neck Carcinomas via ABCB5 Regulation.

Accumulating studies have indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are crucial in tumor initiation, metastasis, relapse, and therapy resistance. In the current study, RT-PCR analysis was employed to evaluate the expression of LINC00963 in tumor tissues and oral CSCs. Stemness phenotypes and the expression of CSCs markers in oral cancer cells transfected with sh-LINC00963 were examined.

LINC00312/YBX1 Axis Regulates Myofibroblast Activities in Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) has been recognized as a precancerous disorder in the oral cavity. Great effort has been made to inhibit the malignant progression of OSF over the past decades, but the cure of this fibrosis disease has not been discovered. In the present study, we found that a long noncoding RNA, LINC00312, was upregulated in OSF tissues, and positively associated with several fibrosis factors, such as α-SMA, type I collagen, and fibronectin.

miR-10b regulated by Twist maintains myofibroblasts activities in oral submucous fibrosis.

Background/purpose: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is an oral precancerous disorder associated with the habit of areca nut chewing. MiR-10b has been shown to be upregulated in the oral cancer cells and induced by Twist. Our previous work has revealed that Twist participated in the pathogenesis of OSF and therefore we aimed to investigate whether Twist/miR-10b axis was involved in the activation of myofibroblast in the oral cavity.

Outcomes for Elderly Patients Aged 70 to 80 Years or Older with Locally Advanced Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched, Nationwide, Oldest Old Patient-Based Cohort Study.

: Although clinicians encounter patients aged ≥70 years with locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (LA-OCSCC), no evidence is available to facilitate decision making regarding treatment for this elderly population. : We selected elderly (≥70 years) patients from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database who had received a diagnosis of LA-OCSCC. Propensity score matching was performed.

Age comorbidity scores as risk factors for 90-day mortality in patients with a pancreatic head adenocarcinoma receiving a pancreaticoduodenectomy: A National Population-Based Study.

Background: To estimate easily assessed preoperative factors for predicting 90-day mortality in patients with a pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (PHA) receiving a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database of patients with a PHA who received a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Basic demographic characteristics, including gender and age, were categorized.

LncRNA LINC00974 activates TGF-β/Smad signaling to promote oral fibrogenesis.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a progressive scarring disease and has been considered as a premalignant condition of the oral cavity. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OSF are still unclear.

Method: Here, we examined the expression of a novel long non-coding RNA LINC00974 in OSF and investigated its function role in myofibroblast transdifferentiation.

Comorbidity profiles among patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A case-control study.

Background/purpose: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is common and associated with certain comorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of selected comorbidities in patients with RAUs and to compare the risks of comorbidity between the two cohorts of patients with or without RAUs based on the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database.

Methods: This case-control study included patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (the RAS cohort) and patients without recurrent aphthous stomatitis using 1:1 matching for year of index date, age, sex, monthly income, geographical location, and urbanization level (the non-RAS cohort).

Slug mediates myofibroblastic differentiation to promote fibrogenesis in buccal mucosa.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis; however, the exact role of EMT-inducer Slug in the progression of precancerous oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) has not been investigated. In the current study, we showed that the expression of Slug was upregulated in OSF tissues and associated with various myofibroblast markers. After silence of Slug in fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs), the elevated myofibroblast activities and fibrosis markers were all downregulated.

Chemosensitizing effect of honokiol in oral carcinoma stem cells via regulation of IL-6/Stat3 signaling.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis. Numerous studies have attempted to explore alternative regimens aimed at reducing cancer stem cells (CSCs) without compromising the efficacy of conventional chemoradiotherapy. The present study sought to assess the effect of a natural compound honokiol on the reduction of elevated cancer stemness, metastatic capacity, and chemoresistance of oral carcinoma stem cells (OCSCs).

miR-145 mediates the anti-cancer stemness effect of photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in oral cancer cells.

5-Aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has been used in the treatment of various precancerous and malignant lesions. Our previous work has demonstrated that ALA-PDT possesses the potential to serve as an adjuvant therapy against head and neck cancer via eliminating the cancer stem cells (CSCs) property. This study aimed to further investigate the possible molecular mechanism underlying the effect of ALA-PDT.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polycaprolactone-Based Polyurethanes for the Fabrication of Elastic Guided Bone Regeneration Membrane.

The aim of this research is to synthesize polycaprolactone-based polyurethanes (PCL-based PUs) that can be further used for the fabrication of guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes with higher tensile strength and elongation at break than collagen and PTFE membranes. The PCL-based PUs were prepared by the polymerization of polycaprolactone (PCL) diol with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) at different ratios using either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or ethylenediamine (EDA) as chain extenders. The chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the synthesized polymers were determined using NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC, and tensile tester.

Butylidenephthalide abrogates the myofibroblasts activation and mesenchymal transdifferentiation in oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a premalignant disorder in the oral cavity, and areca nut chewing habit has been implicated in the persistent activation of myofibroblasts and the subsequent fibrosis. Therefore, it is critical to ameliorate the excessive activities of myofibroblasts prior to the malignant transformation of OSF. In the current study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of butylidenephthalide (BP), a major phthalide ingredient of Angelica sinensis, in fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs) as well as various myofibroblast hallmarks, including the phenotypical characteristics and fibrosis-related markers.

Let-7c restores radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity and impairs stemness in oral cancer cells through inhibiting interleukin-8.

Background: The let-7 family of microRNAs has been considered as tumor suppressors in various cancers; however, the role of let-7c in oral squamous cell carcinoma has not been determined yet.

Methods: In this study, phenotypical behaviors and the radio/chemoresistance were examined subsequent to overexpression of let-7c. In addition, the expression of let-7c in cancer stem cells (CSCs) was evaluated and the effect of let-7c on stemness characteristics was assessed.

Antimetastatic potentials of salvianolic acid A on oral squamous cell carcinoma by targeting MMP-2 and the c-Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.

The metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most important causes of cancer-related deaths. Thus, various therapeutic strategies have been developed to prevent the metastasis of OSCC. Salvianolic acid A (SAA), a traditional Chinese medicine, has antithrombosis, antiplatelet, anti-inflammation, and antitumor activities.

Targeting LncRNA HOTAIR suppresses cancer stemness and metastasis in oral carcinomas stem cells through modulation of EMT.

Increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate diverse cellular processes, such as cell growth, apoptosis and tumorigenesis. However, the functional roles of lncRNAs and mechanistic analysis of their interplays with oncogenic pathways in oral cancer remain largely unknown. In the current study, we examined the significance of lncRNA HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) in tumor progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC).