Second primary malignancy of the aerodigestive tract in patients treated for cancer of the oral cavity and larynx

Locally Advanced Laryngeal Squamous cell Carcinoma in a Patient with a Synchronous Second Primary Thyroid Carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common primary tumors of the head and neck region. Unfortunately, patients with laryngeal SCC tend to develop second primary tumors (SPTs), accounting for increased mortality. The lung is the predominant site of a second presentation, followed by the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. In contrast, the thyroid gland rarely hosts an SPT. Our study describes the management and treatment of a 69-year-old female who presented with a rare combination of synchronous laryngeal and thyroid carcinomas.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-03968-y.

Long-Term Care and Follow-Up in Laryngeal Cancer Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

We conducted an outcome analysis on surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study with 352 patients was analyzed. A new nomogram that incorporates age, T- and N-classification, and treatment was created.

RESULTS

Recurrence was observed in 65 (18.5%) patients after a mean time of 16.5 months. After 60 months, 91 (25.9%) of patients developed secondary primary tumors (SPT), most commonly in the lungs (n = 29; 8.2%) followed by other head and neck cancers (n = 21; 6.0%). Notably, the mean time to occurrence of secondary head and neck cancers was twice that of lung cancer (101.1 vs. 47.5 months).

CONCLUSION

Recurrent disease is less common in LSCC patients and appears much earlier than SPT. Because one in every four laryngeal cancer patients develops SPTs within 5-10 years, long-term care and follow-up, including imaging studies, are highly recommended. The nomogram was useful for estimating survival.

Chemotherapy for primary cancer can reduce the risk of head and neck second primary malignancy: a propensity-matched analysis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of chemotherapy versus no chemotherapy on the risk of second primary head and neck malignancies (SPHNMs) in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to assess the survival outcomes of patients with SPHNM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 937 OSCC patients were divided into chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy groups by propensity score matching (PSM). In the presence of the competing event of non-SPHNM death, the fine and gray modified Cox proportional hazard model was fitted to detect the impact of various factors, including the history of chemotherapy, on SPHNM risk. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the survival outcomes of patients.

RESULTS

After PSM, the 10-year cumulative probability of SPHNM was 10.7% for patients who received chemotherapy and 22.1% for patients who did not. The fine and gray regression model showed that prior chemotherapy was associated with a 51% reduced risk of SPHNM (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR): 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-0.84, P = 0.1). The disease-free survival (DFS) rates did not differ significantly between the SPHNM and non-SPHNM groups. And there were no significant differences in DFS rates between the patients with and those without prior chemotherapy in the SPHNM group.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy for locally advanced primary OSCC is associated with a decreased incidence of subsequent SPHNM. However, chemotherapy for the primary cancer does not improve DFS in patients with SPHNM.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Chemotherapy plays a positive role in preventing SPHNMs for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Before January 2015, the data were retrieved retrospectively, while after January 2015, the data were collected prospectively in a POROMS database (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02395367).

Applicability of autofluorescence and fluorescent probes in the trans-surgical of oral carcinomas: A systematic review

Oral cancer represents an important health problem, as it is the sixth most common type of cancer in the world and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The treatment considered the gold standard for this type of tumor is surgical resection with negative margins, with a distance of at least 5 mm from the tumor. This procedure is strongly associated with local control and disease-specific survival, however, in many cases, large amounts of healthy tissue are removed, resulting in surgical defects, compromising various functions and directly affecting the individual's quality of life. From this perspective, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the use of autofluorescence and fluorescent probes as potential adjuvant techniques to facilitate the delineation of surgical margins for oral cancers. A comprehensive search was performed in Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, LIVIVO, Embase, ProQuest Open Access Dissertations & Theses, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, and DART Europe databases, where 1948 articles were found. After the different stages of critical evaluation, 15 articles were selected, eligible for the inclusion criteria. Of these, 7 articles used autofluorescence, 7 used fluorescent probes and 1 article used both methods. As for autofluorescence, the most used device was the VELScope, and indocyanine green was the most used probe. Compared to histopathology, autofluorescence did not obtain significant and/or superiors results. In contrast to fluorescent probes that, most articles showed a good performance of margins during surgical resection, making them a promising alternative. However, it is still necessary to carry out the analysis of more articles, with more significant samples and sensitivity and specificity data to qualify the results.

A single centre study from western India to evaluate the frequency of developing second and subsequent multiple primary malignancies among cancer survivors

Aim

This study was designed to evaluate the frequency of developing second and subsequent primary cancers among cancer survivors.

Methods

We have retrospectively analyzed 121 multiple primary cancer patients treated at Bhagwan Mahavir Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India from the last 20 years. The survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier methodology.

Results

The prevalence of multiple primary malignant tumors (MPMTs) was 1.51% (121/8000), with a male to female ratio of 1:1.42. In males most of the reported MPMTs were synchronous and most common first primary cancer cases were head & neck and lung whereas, in females most of the reported MPMTs were metachronous and most common first primary cancer cases were breast and gynaecological malignancies. Family history was reported in 15 cases. Maximum 33.05% patients received combined treatment of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and 91.73% (111/121) of patients with MPMTs were effectively followed up, 35 (28.92%) patients died and 5-year survival rate of the remaining 86 patients was 68.46%.

Conclusions

In the present observational study the most frequent sites of MPMTs in men were head & neck and lung whereas, in women breast and gynaecological sites were common. Therefore, careful monitoring and follow up are required for these patients.

Association between postoperative radiotherapy for young-onset head and neck cancer and long-term risk of second primary malignancy: a population-based study

Background

Second primary malignancy (SPM) represents the leading long-term cause of death among patients with index head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We aimed to quantify the association between postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and the risk of SPM development for index HNSCC among adolescent and young patients, who are particularly vulnerable to radiation-associated impacts due to their increased tissue susceptibilities and longer life expectancies.

Methods

This study was conducted using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to collect the data of 5 year survivors of index young-onset HNSCC from 1975 to 2011. The outcome of interest was SPM, a new, metachronous malignancy after the index HNSCC. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and excess absolute risks (EARs) were used to quantify the PORT-associated risks externally, and relative risks (RRs) were estimated by the multivariate Poisson regression analysis to quantify the PORT-associated risks internally.

Results

Of the included 2771 5 year survivors with index young-onset HNSCCs, the receipt of PORT (37.6%) was associated with higher risk of SPMs (RR, 1.23; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.43). PORT-associated risks were elevated for the majority of sites, including head and neck (RR, 1.19; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.50) and lung (RR, 1.67; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.34). With regarding to the subsites of head and neck, RRs were above unity in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (RR, 1.68; 95% CI 1.39 to 2.03) and laryngeal SCC (RR, 1.02; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.43). A relatively greater RR was observed for patients younger than 35 years (RR, 1.44, 95% CI 0.37 to 5.57) and those diagnosed with localized diseases (RR, 1.16, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.5). PORT-associated risks were increased remarkably after 15 years of follow-up (RR, 1.24; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.58).

Conclusions

An association was discovered between PORT treatment and increased long-term risk of SPM among patients with index young-onset HNSCC. The findings suggest long-term follow-up surveillance for these patients, particularly those with oral cavity SCC or laryngeal SCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03544-y.

Endoscopic Screening for Second Primary Tumors of the Esophagus Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Malignancies of the head and neck (HN) region and esophagus are among the most common cancers worldwide. Due to exposure to common carcinogens and the theory of field cancerization, HN cancer patients have a high risk of developing second primary tumors (SPTs). In our review of 28 studies with 51,454 HN cancer patients, the prevalence of SPTs was 12%. The HN area is the most common site of SPTs, followed by the lungs and esophagus, and 13% of HN cancer patients have been reported to have esophageal high-grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma. The prognosis of HN cancer patients with concomitant esophageal SPTs is poor, and therefore identifying esophageal SPTs as early as possible is of paramount importance for risk stratification and to guide the treatment strategy. Image-enhanced endoscopy, especially using narrow-band imaging endoscopy and Lugol’s chromoendoscopy, has been shown to improve the diagnostic performance in detecting esophageal neoplasms at an early stage. Moreover, the early detection and minimally invasive endoscopic treatment of early esophageal neoplasm has been shown to improve the prognosis. Well-designed prospective studies are warranted to establish appropriate treatment and surveillance programs for HN cancer patients with esophageal SPTs.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with hypopharyngeal cancers with multiple primary cancers: A propensity score matched analysis

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) patients with multiple primary cancers (MPCs) and to compare differences between patients with metachronous and synchronous MPCs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study included 219 patients with HPSCC treated at our center between 2008 and 2020; the clinical characteristics and prognosis of 66 patients with MPCs were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the factors between patients with synchronous and metachronous MPCs.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients with HPSCC (66/219, 30.1%) experienced MPCs, of which 29 were synchronous and 37 were metachronous. The esophagus (n = 39, 59.1%), lung (n = 10, 15.2%), and oropharynx (n = 4, 6.1%) were the three most common sites of MPCs in both the synchronous and metachronous groups. More patients with synchronous MPCs were stage T1-2 (82.8% vs. 59.5%, P = 0.041) compared to those with metachronous MPCs. Among the 24 pairs of patients after PSM, patients with metachronous MPCs had higher 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) (52.5% vs. 16.3%, P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (58.5% vs. 22.1%, P = 0.001) than those with synchronous cancers. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that patients with synchronous MPCs had shorter PFS (HR 4.45, 95% CI 1.819-10.885, P = 0.001) and OS (HR 3.918, 95% CI 1.591-9.645, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

MPCs are common among patients with HPSCC, and patients with metachronous MPCs had better survival than those with synchronous MPCs. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of MPCs in patients with HPSCC and optimize treatment to improve outcomes.

Secondary primary malignancy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: 27-year experience from the perspective of diagnostic tools

Background

The survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients with secondary primary malignancy (SPM) showed no significant improvement for decades, however, the impact of advances in diagnostic tools is rarely mentioned. This study investigated the clinical characteristic of HNSCC with SPM over a 27-year period especially from the perspective of diagnostic tools.

Methods

This study evaluated 157 HNSCC patients with SPM. The patients were divided into two groups according to the time of SPM diagnosis (Group A:1992–2003; Group B: 2004–2014). Age, gender, stage of first primary malignancy (FPM), SPM interval, overall survival, and disease-free survival were compared between groups.

Results

Group B had significantly more SPM developed rate (p = 0.002), more SPM patients with advanced stage of FPM (p = 0.001), synchronous SPM (p = 0.006), and shorter SPM interval (p<0.001) compared to Group A. The survival rate in Group B was not significantly better than Group A.

Conclusion

Among patients diagnosed with HNSCC recently, more SPMs are diagnosed in a shorter time interval and in a more advanced stage. The overall advances in diagnostic tools cannot significantly improve SPM survival, however, it enables more patients to receive corresponding treatment.

Radiation-Associated Sarcoma of the Head and Neck: Incidence, Latency, and Survival

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Radiation-associated sarcomas of the head and neck (RASHN) are known but rare sequelae after radiation for squamous cell carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to characterize RASHN, estimate the risk of RASHN in head and neck squamous cell patients after therapeutic radiation, and compare their survival to that of patients with de novo sarcomas of the head and neck (dnSHN).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective database analysis.

METHODS

RASHN and dnSHN cases were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database to identify risk factors and calculate incidence and latency. Survival was compared between RASHN and dnSHN.

RESULTS

The risk of RASHN was 20.0 per 100,000 person-years. The average latency period was 124.2 months (range 38-329). The cumulative incidence of RASHN at 20 years was 0.13%. Oral cavity and oropharynx primaries demonstrate increased risk. Five-year overall survival of RASHN was 22.4% compared to 64.5% for dnSHN.

CONCLUSIONS

RASHN are confirmed to be rare. RASHN have poor overall survival and worse survival compared to dnSHN. The impact of intensity-modulated radiation therapy protocols on this risk is unknown. Modifiable risk factors of smoking and alcohol consumption continue to dwarf radiation therapy as risk factors of second primary head and neck cancers.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 2021.

Treatment Modality and Second Primary Tumors of the Head and Neck

INTRODUCTION

Second primary tumors (SPTs) in head and neck cancer are thought to occur from premalignant lesions that are present at the time of the primary tumor diagnosis. The association of the modality used to treat the primary lesion with SPT occurrence is not clear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of SPTs in patients with head and neck malignancies, according to treatment modality.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study. All patients who were treated at Soroka Medical Center between 2000 and 2013 for a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were assessed. Data analysis included tumor site of the primary and second primary and treatment modality of the primary tumor. In addition, demographics as well as habits were recorded as well.

RESULTS

Of the 184 patients included in the cohort, SPT developed in 31 patients (17%) with a median time to diagnosis of 4.3 years. Smoking was reported in 74% of those with SPT and 78% of those without. The most common site for SPT was the lungs, with 13 cases, 42% of the total SPTs. Among patients who developed an SPT, for 12 of those with an index tumor in the oral cavity or oro-hypopharynx, 8 (67%) developed an SPT in the same location; for 18 of those with an index tumor in the larynx, 11 (61%) developed a SPT in the lungs and bronchi (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the treatment modality used was not found to be associated with the occurrence of SPTs and the radiotherapy showed no protective or harmful effect (HR 0.64 p = 0.24).

CONCLUSION

Treatment modality used for head and neck cancer does not seem to be associated with the occurrence of SPTs.

The Value of Virtual Chromoendoscopy in the Workup of Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Second primary tumors (SPTs) significantly increase the mortality in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) could complement or replace lugol chromoendoscopy (LCE) for early esophageal second primary tumor (ESPT) detection. An overview of the existing techniques and their diagnostic performance in early detection of esophageal squamous cell neoplasms is provided.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nowadays, LCE is the golden standard to detect ESPTs. Recently, multiple new VCE techniques have been developed. Especially narrow-band imaging (NBI) is promising. It shows similar sensitivity to LCE, but a significantly higher specificity. Patients with HNSCC are prone to develop ESPTs, both synchronous and metachronous, with a substantial negative impact on survival rates. Therefore, active screening and follow-up is necessary. LCE is an effective screening method, but has some disadvantages. Countering these drawbacks, NBI shows a high potential in early ESPT detection in high-risk patients. Additional multicenter studies are needed to compare diagnostic performance and cost-effectiveness of NBI and other VCE techniques with LCE.

Conventionally fractionated large volume head and neck re-irradiation using multileaf collimator-based robotic technique: A feasibility study

Purpose

To report on the feasibility and performance of conventionally fractionated multileaf collimator (MLC)-based robotic stereotactic body re-irradiation of the head and neck region using MLC-based Cyberknife (CK) technology.

Methods

Patients treated for recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer (HNC) with curative proton therapy to a target volume > 30 cm³ between 2011 and 2015 were included. MLC-based CK plans were generated using the CK M6 InCise2 MLC system. Dose statistics from MLC-based CK plans were compared to proton beam therapy (PBT) plans according to the following metrics: target coverage, target homogeneity index, gradient index, Paddick conformity index (CI), prescription isodose volume (PIV), treatment time (tTime) for one fraction as well as doses to organs at risk (OAR). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare dose metrics.

Results

Eight patients were included; the tumor sites included: salivary glands, pharynx (oropharynx, hypopharynx and retropharynx) and sinonasal cavities. Five of 8 patients were treated with multifield optimisation intensity modulated proton therapy, 3 were treated with passive scattering proton therapy. Median dose was 67 Gy (range 60-70) in 32 fractions (range 30-35). The median high-dose planning target volume (PTV) was 45.4 cm³ (range 2.4 - 130.2 cm³) and the median elective PTV was 91.9 cm³ (range 61.2 - 269.7 cm³). Overall, the mean target coverage (mean 98.3% vs. 96.2% for CK vs. PBT, respectively), maximum dose to PTV (mean 111% vs. 111%, p = 0.2) and mean dose to PTV (mean 104% vs. 104%) were similar across modalities. Highly conformal plans were achieved with both modalities, but mean CI was better with PBT (0.5 vs. 0.6 for CK vs. PBT, p = 0.04). Homogeneity and gradient indexes were similar between the 2 modalities; mean tTime with PBT and CK was 17 vs. 18 min, respectively (p = 0.7). Case-based study revealed that CK and PBT plans allowed for excellent sparing of OAR, with some clinical scenarios associated with better performance of CK while others with better performance of PBT.

Conclusion

Our study has demonstrated the dosimetric performance of large volume head and neck re-irradiation using MLC-based CK in various clinical scenarios. While conformity was generally better achieved with PBT, MLC-based CK allowed for high dose gradient leading to rapid dose drop-off and sparing of OAR. Conventionally fractionated MLC-based CK could be a competitive alternative in large volume head and neck re-irradiation that deserves further investigation in the clinical setting.

Second primary lung cancer following laryngeal cancer: retrospective study of incidence and multivariate analysis of risk factors in 209 patients

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the incidence of second primary lung cancer following treatment for laryngeal cancer and to identify risk factors for its development.

METHOD

Retrospective case series.

RESULTS

The five-year actuarial incidence of second primary lung cancer was 8 per cent (1.6 per cent per year). This was associated with a very poor median survival of seven months following diagnosis. Supraglottic tumours were associated with an increased risk of second primary lung cancer compared to glottic tumours in both univariate (hazard ratio = 4.32, p = 0.005) and multivariate analyses (hazard ratio = 4.14, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Second primary lung cancer occurs at a rate of 1.6 per cent per year following a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, and this is associated in a statistically significant manner with supraglottic primary tumour. The recent National Lung Cancer Screening Trial suggests a survival advantage of 20 per cent at five years with annual screening using low-dose computed tomography scanning of the chest in a comparable cohort to ours. These findings have the potential to inform post-treatment surveillance protocols in the future.

Incidence and Risk of Second Primary Malignant Neoplasm After a First Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Importance

Second primary malignant neoplasms (SPMNs) are the leading cause of death in survivors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, human papillomavirus (HPV) has emerged as a risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and has different prognosis from classic tobacco/alcohol-associated HNSCC. This suggests that there also may be different risks and burden of SPMNs among patients who's HNSCC were from HPV or tobacco and/or alcohol.

Objective

To assess SPMN risks and burden in a large US cohort of patients with a first potentially HPV-associated HNSCC vs non-HPV-associated HNSCC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this population-based retrospective cohort study, 109 512 adult patients diagnosed with HNSCC between 2000 and 2014 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry.

Exposures

HPV-relatedness based on whether patients' first HNSCC was potentially associated with HPV. Patients were grouped into 2 cohorts: potentially HPV-associated HNSCC, and non-HPV-associated HNSCC.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was incidence of SPMN (defined as the first subsequent primary cancer occurring at least 2 months after first cancer diagnosis). Excess SPMN risk was calculated using relative (standardized incidence ratios [SIRs]) and absolute (excess absolute risk [EAR] per 10 000 person-years at risk [PYR]).

Results

A total of 109 512 patients with HNSCC (mean [SD] age, 61.9 [12.1] years; 83 305 [76.1%] men) were identified. The overall SIR was 2.18 (95% CI, 2.14-2.22) corresponding to 160 excess cases per 10 000 PYR. The risk among patients with first potentially HPV-associated HNSCC (SIR, 1.98; EAR, 114 excess cases per 10 000 PYR) was lower than those with first non-HPV-associated HNSCC (SIR, 2.28; EAR, 188 excess cases per 10 000 PYR). Overall, the largest SIRs and EARs were observed for cancers of the head and neck, lung, and esophagus. However, the risks of SPMN were lower among potentially HPV-associated HNSCC patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

Patients diagnosed with HNSCC experience excess risk of SPMN, which was higher among those with non-HPV-associated HNSCC than from potentially HPV-associated HNSCC. Clinicians should implement strategies that prevent or detect SPMN early in patients with HNSCC.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and metachronous second primaries

OBJECTIVES

To assess the rate of second (or more) primaries after treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and survival compared to patients with a single head and neck cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A single-center retrospective study was performed in a University Hospital Center in 541 patients between 2002 and 2010.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-one patients (26.06%) presented 172 metachronous cancers. Overall 5-year survival was 20.3% with and 38.1% without metachronous cancer. Median and mean survival were respectively 21.9 and 51 months in patients with a single cancer, versus 13.9 and 26.5 months in case of metachronous cancer. Specific survival was comparable to overall survival. All-cause and specific survival were significantly poorer in metachronous cancer (P=0.001; log-rank α=0.05).

CONCLUSION

At least a quarter of HNSCC patients go on to develop a metachronous second primary. These are of poor prognosis, whatever their location.

Korean Society of Thyroid-Head and Neck Surgery Guideline Task Force, Joo YH, Cho JK, Koo BS, Kwon M, Kwon SK, Kwon SY, Kim MS, Kim JK, Kim H, Nam I, Roh JL, Park YM, Park IS, Park JJ, Shin SC, Ahn SH, Won S, Ryu CH, Yoon TM, Lee G, Lee DY, Lee MC, Lee JK, Lee JC, Lim JY, Chang JW, Jang JY, Chung MK, Jung YS, Cho JG, Choi YS, Choi JS, Lee GH, Chung PS. Guidelines for the Surgical Management of Oral Cancer: Korean Society of Thyroid-Head and Neck Surgery

Korean Society of Thyroid-Head and Neck Surgery appointed a Task Force to provide guidance on the implementation of a surgical treatment of oral cancer. MEDLINE databases were searched for articles on subjects related to "surgical management of oral cancer" published in English. Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. The quality of evidence was rated with use RoBANS (Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies) and AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews). Evidence-based recommendations for practice were ranked according to the American College of Physicians grading system. Additional directives are provided as expert opinions and Delphi questionnaire when insufficient evidence existed. The Committee developed 68 evidence-based recommendations in 34 categories intended to assist clinicians and patients and counselors, and health policy-makers. Proper surgical treatment selection for oral cancer, which is directed by patient- and subsite-specific factors, remains the greatest predictor of successful treatment outcomes. These guidelines are intended for use in conjunction with the individual patient's treatment goals.

Tobacco smoking after diagnosis of cancer: clinical aspects

Tobacco smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and nearly 90% of lung cancer deaths. Smoking cessation significantly reduces the risk of developing tobacco-related malignancies. Smoking after cancer diagnosis is also associated with multiple risks, including worse tolerance of treatment, higher risk of a failure and second primary tumors, and poorer quality of life. Apart from disease site and stage, continued smoking is considered the strongest adverse predictor of survival in cancer patients. However, the benefits of smoking cessation are undervalued: many patients are not aware of harms related to continued tobacco use after cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, health care professionals often do not encourage their patients to quit, and do not provide tobacco cessation assistance for continuing tobacco users. Despite the apparent impact of tobacco use on treatment outcomes, data on current smoking status is only rarely captured in clinical trials This article reviews the most important clinical aspects of smoking after the diagnosis of cancer.

Risk for a second primary hypopharyngeal and esophageal cancer after an initial primary oral cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk for second primary cancer in the hypopharynx and esophagus (SPC-HE) among individuals with an initial oral/oropharyngeal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mass screening data from Taiwan (2004-2009) included individuals who were ≥18 years old and smoked cigarettes and/or chewed betel quid. Occurrence of SPC-HE was monitored until December 31, 2014. Results were expressed as adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-eight out of 4,494 subjects with oral cancer developed SPC-HE (incidence rate: 6.47 per 1,000 person-years). Relative to patients with primary cancers in the lip, the risk of an SPC-HE was higher in patients with primary cancers in oropharynx (aRR: 19.98, 95% CI: 4.72-84.55), floor of mouth (aRR: 12.13, 95% CI: 2.67-55.15), and hard palate (aRR: 7.31, 95% CI: 1.65-32.37), but not in patients with cancers in tongue (aRR: 3.67, 95% CI: 0.89-15.17) or gum (aRR: 3.99, 95% CI: 0.92-17.35). Regression analyses also showed the risk of an SPC-HE was greater in alcohol drinkers than those who did not (aRR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.10-2.48).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the initial cancer in the lip, patients with a cancer in the oropharynx, floor of mouth, and hard palate had a higher risk for the SPC-HE.

Follow-up of oral and oropharyngeal cancer using narrow-band imaging and high-definition television with rigid endoscope to obtain an early diagnosis of second primary tumors: a prospective study

Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is an optical technique enhancing mucosal vasculature. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of rigid NBI endoscopy in the early detection of second primaries or local recurrences after treatment for oral (OSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), its advantage over standard white-light (WL) endoscopy, and the influence of previous radiotherapy, the learning curve, and lesion site. Between January 2013 and June 2015, 195 patients treated for OSCC or OPSCC with surgery alone (group A) or radiotherapy with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy (group B) underwent additional follow-up assessments using NBI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and accuracy for detecting second primaries or local recurrences were calculated for patients with at least two NBI assessments. The effect of previous radiotherapy was determined by test of proportions and that of the learning curve and lesion site with Fisher's exact test. 138/195 patients were included in the analysis. NBI sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for groups A and B were 89.5 vs 100%, 85.2 vs 81.5%, 65.4 vs 69.7%, 96.3 vs 100%, and 86.3 vs 87%, respectively. The diagnostic gain of NBI was 88.2% in group A and 69.6% in group B. The learning curve was the main source of false positives (p = 0.025), whereas radiotherapy and lesion site were uninfluential (p = NS). NBI appears useful for follow-up after treatment for OSCC or OPSCC, its performance being affected only by the learning curve and not by previous treatment or lesion site.

Factors associated with alcohol drinking behavior of cancer survivors: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with drinking behavior of cancer survivors after cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

The study subjects were 906 adult cancer survivors who had reportedly drunk alcohol before cancer diagnosis and participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 2007 to 2013. Among them, 360 abstained from alcohol drinking after cancer diagnosis. We categorized remaining 546 persistent drinkers into high-risk drinker (consuming≥7 glasses of alcohol for men and≥5 glasses of alcohol for women at one sitting at the frequency of at least once a month) or moderate drinker. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate risk factors associated with drinking behavior.

RESULTS

The high-risk drinkers occupied 27.1% (148 survivors) of the persistent alcohol drinking survivors. Age increase (OR=0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.99), female sex (OR=0.15; 95% CI 0.08-0.28), and increase of time lapse (by 1-year) after cancer diagnosis (OR=0.94; 95% CI 0.92-0.97) were associated with a lower risk of high-risk drinking as compared with moderate drinking. Meanwhile,≤9years of education (OR=1.99; 95% CI 1.10-3.60), alcohol-related cancer (OR=2.09; 95% CI 1.23-3.56), and current smoking (OR=1.92; 95% CI 1.03-3.59) were associated with increased risk of high-risk drinking of cancer survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that greater efforts for preventing high-risk drinking should be laid on the cancer survivors, with consideration of individual sociodemographic characteristics, especially when the survivors had been diagnosed with alcohol-related cancer.

Survival prognostic factors for metachronous second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

We examined the overall survival rates of a national cohort to determine optimal treatments and prognostic factors for patients with metachronous second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (mspHNSCCs) at different stages and sites. We analyzed data of mspHNSCC patients collected from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database. The patients were categorized into four groups based on the treatment modality: Group 1 (control arm; chemotherapy [CT] alone), Group 2 (reirradiation [re‐RT] alone with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy [IMRT]), Group 3 (concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone [irradiation with IMRT]), and Group 4 (salvage surgery with or without RT or CT). We enrolled 1741 mspHNSCC patients without distant metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) ≥6, stage of second HNSCC, stage of first HNSCC, and duration from first primary HNSCC of <3 years were significant poor independent prognostic risk factors for overall survival. After adjustment, adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the overall all‐cause mortality risk at mspHNSCC clinical stages III and IV were 0.72 (0.40–1.82), 0.52 (0.35–0.75), and 0.32 (0.22–0.45) in Groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A Cox regression analysis indicated that a re‐RT dose of ≥6000 cGy was an independent protective prognostic factor for treatment modalities. CCI ≥ 6, stage of second HNSCC, stage of first HNSCC, and duration from first primary HNSCC of <3 years were significant poor independent prognostic risk factors for overall survival. A re‐RT dose of ≥6000 cGy may be necessary for mspHNSCCs.

Hypermethylated ZNF582 and PAX1 are effective biomarkers for detection of oral dysplasia and oral cancer

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether the methylation of ZNF582, PAX1, SOX1, NKX6.1, and PTPRR genes in oral scrapings could be used to detect oral dysplasia and oral cancer and to predict oral cancer recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oral scrapings were collected from 65 normal oral mucosa subjects, 107 oral precancer patients, and 95 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methylation levels of the five genes were quantified by real-time methylation-specific PCR after bisulfite conversion.

RESULTS

Among the five tested genes, methylated ZNF582 (ZNF582^m) and PAX1 (PAX1^m) were found to be appropriate biomarkers for oral dysplasia and oral cancers. ZNF582^m could detect mild dysplasia or worse oral lesions with the sensitivity and specificity being 0.85 and 0.87, respectively. PAX1^m performed better in identifying moderate dysplasia or worse oral lesions with the sensitivity and specificity being 0.72 and 0.86, respectively. Moreover, the methylation levels and positive rates for ZNF582^m and PAX1^m were increased when disease severity increased. Thus, they may be applicable as a triage tool for patients with abnormal visual oral examinations. After cancer excision, both ZNF582^m and PAX1^m levels decreased. However, their levels increased again at the subsequently recurrent sites in some patients approximately 3-4 months before cancer recurrence. Finally, areca-quid chewing alone and in combination with cigarette smoking or alcohol drinking were found to be correlated with ZNF582 and PAX1 hypermethylation.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that hypermethylated ZNF582 and PAX1 are effective biomarkers for the detection of oral dysplasia and oral cancer and for the prediction of oral cancer recurrence.

Incidence and Outcomes of Patients With Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Fourth Primary Tumors: A Long-term Follow-up Study in a Betel Quid Chewing Endemic Area

The aim of this study was to explore the incidence and outcomes of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and fourth primary tumors (PTs) in a betel-chewing endemic area.We retrospectively examined the records of 1836 OSCC patients who underwent radical tumor resection between 1996 and 2014. The outcome measures included the incidence and number of multiple PTs, the main risk factors, and their associations with overall survival (OS).Of the 1836 patients, 1400 (76.3%) had a single PT, 344 (18.7%) a second PT, 67 (3.6%) a third PT, and 25 (1.4%) a fourth PT. Univariate analyses (log-rank test) identified the following factors as significantly associated with a fourth PT: simultaneous first and second PTs, betel quid chewing, buccal subsite, and pT3-4 status. After allowance for the potential confounding effect of other risk factors, all of these factors retained their independent prognostic significance in stepwise multivariate analyses, the only exception being betel chewing. The incidences of second, third, and fourth PTs at 5 and 10 years were 20.2%/34.6%, 4.0%/8.6%, and 1.0%/2.3%, respectively. The 5 and 10-year OS rates (calculated from the diagnosis of each PTs) for patients with a single, second, third, and fourth PTs were 68%/61%, 43%/37%, 45%/39%%, and 30%/30%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Among patients with a fourth PT, those who underwent radical surgery showed a significantly higher 3-year OS than those who did not (57% vs 13%; P = 0.0442).Fourth PTs are rarely observed in OSCC patients in a betel quid-chewing endemic area. Long-term survival rates of patients treated with radical surgery seems acceptable, being 4-fold higher than their counterparts.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Head and Neck versus Non-Head and Neck Second Primary Malignancies in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are at risk for second primary malignancies (SPMs). The prevalence, distribution, and patient survival in head and neck versus non-head and neck SPMs are not fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to quantify the rate of SPMs in patients with HNSCC.

METHODS

This is a population-based cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Prevalence and location of SPMs, and survival data were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 58,363 HNSCC patients, and the prevalence of HNSCC and non-HNSCC SPMs was 3.0% (1,746) and 8.8% (5,109), respectively. Overall survival (OS) was higher in patients with HNSCC SPMs compared to non-HNSCC SPMs (p < 0.001), with no difference in disease-specific survival. Patients with SPMs in the lung and esophagus had a worse OS (p < 0.001), and patients with SPMs in the prostate and breast had a better OS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In HNSCC patients who develop SPMs, nearly 75% are non-HNSCC SPMs. Patients with non-HNSCC SPMs have a lower OS. Future clinical practice guidelines should take the risks and locations of SPM development into consideration for screening.

Value of FDG PET/CT in staging of oral cancer: four simultaneous primary malignancies

Patients with squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the head and neck are at increased risk for second primary malignancies (SPMs). We report on a 53-year-old patient with primary diagnosis of SCC in the anterior floor of the mouth. Panendoscopy suspected an SPM of the right vocal cord. FDG PET/CT, as a whole-body imaging method, confirmed this suspicion and raised concern for further SPM of both esophagus and colon. All malignancies were confirmed by biopsy. Subsequently, the patient underwent radiochemotherapy. In summary, FDG PET/CT revealed unexpected multiple SPMs, prevented unnecessary resection of the oral SCC, and enabled individualized therapeutic management.

Second primary tumours in head and neck cancer

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Head and neck cancer patients have a higher risk of second primary tumours than the general population. The most frequent locations are head and neck, lung and oesophagus, decreasing long-term survival. The aim of this work was to analyse the incidence, location according to index tumour and stage, chronology, patient age, and survival after diagnosis.

METHOD

Retrospective study on 579 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, treated with curative intent, with a minimum 24-month follow-up. Early stages (I/II) were 42.4%, and 57.6% were stages III and IV.

RESULTS

Second primary tumour incidence was 15% (87/579), with 9.2% (8/97) developing a third tumour. The most frequent locations of the second tumours were head and neck, 37.9% (33/87); lung, 36.8% (32/87); oesophagus, 5.7% (5/87); and colon, 5.7% (5/87). Five- and 10-year survival in patients without a second tumour was 65.1% and 52.7% respectively, versus 58.7% and 40.2% in those who developed one.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of second primary tumours increased in the last decade, having a negative effect on survival. Since no specific early diagnosis tool is available, alcohol and tobacco avoidance along with scheduled follow-up are suggested procedures to reduce its incidence.

Cancer of the oral cavity

Cancer of the oral cavity is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Although early diagnosis is relatively easy, presentation with advanced disease is not uncommon. The standard of care is primary surgical resection with or without postoperative adjuvant therapy. Improvements in surgical techniques combined with the routine use of postoperative radiation or chemoradiation therapy have resulted in improved survival. Successful treatment is predicated on multidisciplinary treatment strategies to maximize oncologic control and minimize impact of therapy on form and function. Prevention of oral cancer requires better education about lifestyle-related risk factors, and improved awareness and tools for early diagnosis.

Re-irradiation with cetuximab or cisplatin-based chemotherapy for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

PURPOSE

Locoregional recurrence remains the main pattern of failure after primary combined modality treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We compared the efficacy and toxicity of either cisplatin or cetuximab in combination with re-irradiation (ReRT) for recurrent unresectable SCCHN. Various clinicopathological factors were investigated to establish a prognostic score.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2007 and 2014, 66 patients with recurrent SCCHN originating in a previously irradiated area received cetuximab (n = 33) or cisplatin-based chemotherapy (n = 33) concomitant with ReRT. Toxicity was evaluated weekly and at every follow-up visit. Physical examination, endoscopy, CT or MRI scans were used to evaluate response and disease control.

RESULTS

With a mean follow-up of 18.3 months, the 1-year overall survival (OS) rates for Re-RT with cetuximab and cisplatin-based chemotherapy were 44.4 and 45.5% (p = 0.352), respectively. At 1 year, local control rates (LCR) were 46.4 and 54.2% (p = 0.625), freedom from metastases (FFM) rates 73.6 and 81% (p = 0.842), respectively. Haematological toxicity ≥ grade 3 occurred more often in the cisplatin group (p < 0.001), pain ≥ grade 3 was increased in the cetuximab group (p = 0.034). A physiological haemoglobin level and a longer interval between primary RT and ReRT, proved to be significant prognostic factors for OS (multivariate: p = 0.003, p = 0.002, respectively). Site of the recurrence and gross target volume (GTV) did not show a significant impact on OS in multivariate analysis (p = 0.160, p = 0.167, respectively). A prognostic-score (1-4 points) based on these four variables identified significantly different subgroups: 1-year OS for 0/1/2/3/4 prognostic points: 10, 38, 76, 80 and 100%, respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Both cetuximab- and cisplatin-based ReRT of SCCHN recurrences are feasible and effective treatment options with comparable results in terms of tumour control and survival. Acute adverse events may differ slightly. Our prognostic score could help to identify appropriate patients for ReRT and stratify patients within future clinical trials.

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 as a potential prognostic biomarker and second primary malignancy indicator in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

The significance of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24) expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate and evaluate the clinical significance of MDA-7/IL-24 expression in HNSCC by detecting expression by immunostaining in 131 HNSCC specimens. The function of MDA-7/IL-24 was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot in Ad5.mda-7-infected HNSCC cell lines. Our results showed that MDA-7/IL-24 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of HNSCC cells. MDA-7/IL-24 high patients presented with a favorable postoperative prognosis compared with MDA-7/IL-24 low patients, and high expression of MDA-7/IL-24 was significantly correlated with a lower incidence of second primary malignancies (SPMs) in the head and neck regions. In vitro assays showed that high expression of MDA-7/IL-24 could upregulate the expression of the epithelial terminal differentiation markers cytokeratin (KRT) 1, KRT4, KRT13, phosphorylated endoplasmic reticulum stress protein (p)-EIF2a, and the apoptosis-related protein cleaved caspase-3. It also downregulated the epithelial proliferative markers KRT5, KRT14, Integrin β4, and anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2, which might be partially involved in the underlying mechanisms of Ad.mda-7-mediated HNSCC differentiation and apoptosis. Our results indicate that MDA-7/IL-24 can be a prognostic biomarker and an indicator of second primary malignancies (SPM) in HNSCC.

Incidence of second metachronous head and neck cancers: population-based outcomes over 25 years

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

The primary objective was to determine the incidence of second metachronous head and neck cancers (HNC) following an index HNC and estimate their overall survival.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 1,658 consecutive primary HNC patients diagnosed in 1986 to 1990 were identified through the prospectively maintained provincial BC Cancer Registry database. They were followed up for a period of 25 years. Survival analysis and second cancer estimates were performed with standard Kaplan-Meier & Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 443 (27%) second cancers, 89 (5%) second HNC occurred in 1,658 HNC patients, with an actuarial metachronous HNC incidence rate at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years that was 3.9%, 8.1%, 10.4%, 13.2%, and 14.5%, respectively. Second primary cancer (SPC) in lung and esophagus occurred in 155 (9%) and 32 (2%) patients, respectively. The median follow-up time for all patients and alive patients was 4.05 years (range, 0.2-25.0 years) and 23.2 years (range, 20.76-25.0 years), respectively. Of second HNC, 83 (93%) were metachronous. Oral cavity (P < 0.001) and oropharyngeal (P < 0.002) index cancers were more likely to develop a metachronous HNC. The overall survival rate for the metachronous HNC patients at 5 years is 15%. SPCs in esophagus and lung had lower overall survival compared to second HNC (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers carry the highest risk of a subsequent metachronous HNC. Given the incidence and prognosis of second HNC, future research should address the frequency and duration of screening the head and neck region for a second cancer.

Alcohol drinking and second primary cancer risk in patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing data from observational studies to assess the strength of the association of alcohol drinking with second primary cancer risk in patients with upper aerodigestive tract (UADT; oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus) cancer.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were searched up to July 2012 and the reference lists of studies included in the analysis were examined. Random-effects models were used to estimate summary relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Nineteen studies, 8 cohort and 11 case-control studies, were included. In highest versus lowest meta-analyses, alcohol drinking was associated with significantly increased risk of UADT second primary cancers (RR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.96-4.50). Significantly increased risks were also observed for UADT and lung combined (RR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.16-3.11) and all sites (RR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.22-2.10) second primary cancers. For an increase in the alcohol intake of 10 grams per day, dose-response meta-analysis resulted in a significantly increased RR of 1.09 (95% CI, 1.04-1.14) for UADT second primary cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol drinking in patients with UADT cancer is associated with an increased risk of second primary cancers. Studies conducted in alcohol drinking patients with UADT cancer and evaluating the effect of alcohol cessation on second primary cancer and other outcomes are needed.

IMPACT

Our results emphasize the importance of prevention policies aiming to reduce alcohol drinking. Health-care professionals should encourage alcohol drinking patients with UADT cancer to reduce their consumption and reinforce the surveillance of this at-risk subpopulation.

Tobacco smoking and the risk of subsequent primary cancer among cancer survivors: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Smoking is a well-known risk factor for cancer; however, there is little evidence as to whether the smoking status of cancer survivors has any risk for subsequent primary cancer (SPC) incidence, regardless of the first cancer sites.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, 29,795 eligible patients with a first cancer between 1985 and 2004 were examined for SPC until the end of 2006, using a record linkage between hospital-based and population-based cancer registries. The association between smoking at the time of the first cancer diagnosis and three SPC groups (i.e. specific SPC, smoking-related SPCs, and all SPCs) was calculated by Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Ever smokers had 59% and 102% higher risk for all SPCs and smoking-related SPCs, respectively, than never smokers. Cancer survivors who had recently stopped smoking had 18% and 26% less risk, respectively, for these SPCs than those who smoked at the diagnosis. We also found that, compared with those who had never smoked, cancer survivors who had ever smoked had a significantly elevated risk of oral/pharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, lung, and hematological SPCs, regardless of the first cancer sites.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that smoking increases not only the first cancer but also a second or SPC. Moreover, the results from recent quitters versus current smokers suggest that smoking cessation may decrease the risk for SPC, especially for smoking-related SPCs in cancer survivors. Preventive measures are necessary to reduce not only SPC incidence but also tobacco use.

Survivorship--competing mortalities, morbidities, and second malignancies

Mortality of head and neck cancer has declined in the United States over the past 20 years. This improvement has been linked to use of multimodality treatment of advanced disease. Despite this improvement, disease-specific survival remains low. Patients who survive head and neck cancer are exposed to morbidity and mortality secondary to the same factors as the general population. Factors related to cancer and cancer treatment predispose them to increased risk of mortality. Improvements in head and neck cancer treatment have led to a scenario where an increasing proportion of patients die from causes other than the primary cancer, called competing mortalities.

Aetiology, genetics and prevention of secondary neoplasms in adult cancer survivors

Second and higher-order malignancies now comprise about 18% of all incident cancers in the USA, superseding first primary cancers of the breast, lung, and prostate. The occurrence of second malignant neoplasms (SMN) is influenced by a myriad of factors, including the late effects of cancer therapy, shared aetiological factors with the primary cancer (such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol intake, and obesity), genetic predisposition, environmental determinants, host effects, and combinations of factors, including gene-environment interactions. The influence of these factors on SMN in survivors of adult-onset cancer is reviewed here. We also discuss how modifiable behavioural and lifestyle factors may contribute to SMN, and how these factors can be managed. Cancer survivorship provides an opportune time for oncologists and other health-care providers to counsel patients with regard to health promotion, not only to reduce SMN risk, but to minimize co-morbidities. In particular, the importance of smoking cessation, weight control, physical activity, and other factors consonant with adoption of a healthy lifestyle should be consistently emphasized to cancer survivors. Clinicians can also play a critical role by endorsing genetic counselling for selected patients and making referrals to dieticians, exercise trainers, and others to assist with lifestyle change interventions.

Incidence of second primary malignancies in patients with treated head and neck cancer: a comprehensive review of literature

BACKGROUND

Increased incidence of a second primary aero-digestive malignancy after an index head and neck cancer (HNC) is well-documented. Furthermore, a clear set of surveillance strategies for second primary aero-digestive cancers in these patients exists.

METHODS

The goal of this article is to review the published literature on risk of second primary malignancies (SPMs) (including aero-digestive malignancies) after a treated index HNC as well as its associated predictors, prognosis and surveillance. Most relevant publications were identified through searching the PubMed database for articles published up to July 2012; epidemiologic evidence was synthesized and thoroughly analyzed.

FINDINGS

Data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, population-based and cohort group studies, prior reviews, and case reports indicate an increased incidence of various SPMs after occurrence of a HNC. These cancers are not limited to upper aero-digestive sites. Common risk factors including environmental, genetic and immune factors may explain the increased incidence of second cancers in this patient population. In addition, site of the index HNC may predict the site of a future SPM.

CONCLUSIONS

As a general rule, oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers are associated more with head and neck region SPM, while laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers - with that of the lung. As these cancers confer dismal prognosis and shorter survival in patients with HNCs, several literature sources recommend close surveillance for and an aggressive therapy of SPM. Notwithstanding, their optimal management and follow-up schedule remains to be established.

Analysis of multicentricity in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma treated with partial laryngeal surgery

A clinicopathological analysis of multicentricity in patients treated with either supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy or supracricoid partial laryngectomy for supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was conducted. This study included 63 patients who underwent supracricoid partial laryngectomy or supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy for T2 or T3 supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 included patients with one focus of the tumor (monocentric), and Group 2 included patients who had more than one focus of the tumor (multicentric) diagnosed after pathology examination. Forty-eight (76.2 %) of the patients had one focus of the tumor (Group 1) and 15 (23.8 %) of the patients had more than one focus of the tumor (Group 2). The rates of lymph node metastasis in Group 1 and Group 2 were 12.5 and 60 %, respectively. The second focus was invasive in seven (46.6 %) of the patients, carcinoma in situ in six (40 %) of the patients, and both invasive and carcinoma in situ in two (13.3 %) patients. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates of Groups 1 and 2 were 77.1-66.7 % and 56.2-46.7 %, respectively. With regard to survival rates, no statistically significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.576). The lack of statistical significance might have been associated with the low sample size. Although multicentric tumors of the supraglottic larynx have high incidence of nodal metastasis, no significant increase in the rate of recurrence was determined.

Tobacco-specific carcinogen nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone induces AKT activation in head and neck epithelia

Exposure to tobacco carcinogens is causally associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we reported that AKT is activated at a higher frequency in both HNSCC tumors and the adjacent mucosa from HNSCC patients who are smokers than those from HNSCC patients who are non-smokers. Adding physiologically relevant concentrations of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-1butanone (NNK), a major tobacco carcinogen, to normal head and neck epithelial cells and HNSCC cell lines, rapidly and constitutively activated AKT through phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. AKT phosphorylation was associated with activation of downstream signaling mediators BAD, MDM2, GSK-3β, mTOR. These alterations correlated with increased proliferation and decreased etoposide-induced apoptosis in NNK-exposed cells. Finally, NNK exposure to mouse head and neck epithelia resulted in epithelial hyperproliferation and reduced apoptosis, which is correlated with AKT activation. Our results suggest that AKT activation is an early event and plays a pivotal role in mediating tobacco-induced HNSCC carcinogenesis.