Treatment outcome and pattern of recurrence of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma with EGFR-mutation and human papillomavirus

EGFR mutations in sinonasal squamous neoplasms: Novel hotspot for exon 20 insertions

EGFR mutations and oncogenic high-risk (HR) HPV have been suggested to be mutually exclusive pathways in pathogenesis of sinonasal squamous neoplasms which include sinonasal papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In Indian patients, HR-HPV association is rare; however, there is no data on EGFR mutations in these tumors. One-hundred-eleven cases of sinonasal squamous neoplasms were interrogated for EGFR exon 19 and 20 mutations, including 48 inverted papillomas (IP), 15 SCC arising in the background of inverted papilloma (IP-SCC) and 48 de novo SCC. HR-HPV association was determined by p16 immunohistochemistry, followed by mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) in all p16 positive and a subset of negative cases. Low-risk (LR)-HPV mRNA ISH was performed in all EGFR wild-type IP and IP-SCC. Among 94 cases with valid results (41 IP, 10 IP-SCC and 43 de novo SCC), EGFR mutations were identified in 24 (59%) IP, 4 (40%) IP-SCC and 15 (35%) de novo SCC. EGFR mutations were associated with nasal cavity location and non-keratinizing histology. All exon 20 insertions were located between residues 778 and 810. p16 immunopositivity was present in 18 cases, including 7 EGFR mutant ones. mRNA ISH identified HR-HPV in one p16 positive de novo SCC, which also had an EGFR mutation. LR-HPV was absent in all 34 cases tested. Thus, we identified EGFR exon 20 mutations at a novel hotspot in a sizeable number of sinonasal squamous neoplasms, both IPs and SCCs, suggesting that they play a significant role in their pathogenesis. Exon 19 mutations were uncommon.

A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Induction Chemotherapy on Survival Outcomes for Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Malignant neoplasms of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are an aggressive form of tumour that tends to be diagnosed at a locoregionally advanced stage. Among its various histological subtypes, squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are the most common form of sinonasal cancer, with approximately 50%-60% of sinonasal malignancies being SCC. This review aims to investigate the impact of induction chemotherapy on survival outcomes for patients undergoing cancer care for sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCC).

METHODS

Two reviewers independently assessed 2,118 studies pooled from four bibliographic databases, namely MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science and hand-searched grey literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. As this was a time-to-event analysis, hazard ratios (HRs) and standard errors were derived from individual studies and pooled together for analysis. If these values were not available directly, statistical methods were used to indirectly extract the required data via Kaplan-Meier curves or via the p-value and the numbers of events.

RESULTS

Results suggest a notable improvement in overall survival (HR=0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]=[0.36, 0.86], p<0.009) and a promising improvement in disease-free survival (HR=0.82, 95% CI=[0.62, 1.08], p=0.16) for patients who underwent induction chemotherapy in addition to definitive treatment for SNSCC.

CONCLUSION

Our findings add to existing literature by providing a precise pooled estimate of the beneficial effects, revealing that induction chemotherapy is not just a viable add-on to traditional treatment regimens but also improves survival outcomes when compared to definitive local therapy as a standalone treatment. Clinicians should consider incorporating induction chemotherapy as a treatment option for locoregionally advanced SNSCC.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal neoplasms, whether benign and malignant, pose a significant challenge to clinicians and represent a model area for multidisciplinary collaboration in order to optimize patient care. The International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors (ICSNT) aims to summarize the best available evidence and presents 48 thematic and histopathology-based topics spanning the field.

METHODS

In accordance with prior International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology documents, ICSNT assigned each topic as an Evidence-Based Review with Recommendations, Evidence-Based Review, and Literature Review based on the level of evidence. An international group of multidisciplinary author teams were assembled for the topic reviews using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses format, and completed sections underwent a thorough and iterative consensus-building process. The final document underwent rigorous synthesis and review prior to publication.

RESULTS

The ICSNT document consists of four major sections: general principles, benign neoplasms and lesions, malignant neoplasms, and quality of life and surveillance. It covers 48 conceptual and/or histopathology-based topics relevant to sinonasal neoplasms and masses. Topics with a high level of evidence provided specific recommendations, while other areas summarized the current state of evidence. A final section highlights research opportunities and future directions, contributing to advancing knowledge and community intervention.

CONCLUSION

As an embodiment of the multidisciplinary and collaborative model of care in sinonasal neoplasms and masses, ICSNT was designed as a comprehensive, international, and multidisciplinary collaborative endeavor. Its primary objective is to summarize the existing evidence in the field of sinonasal neoplasms and masses.

High-risk HPV Does not Appear to be an Important Risk Factor for Sinonasal Carcinomas in Turkish Population: A Tertiary Center Experience

Background. The sinonasal tract is the second most common site of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related carcinomas in the head and neck. Published data on the association between sinonasal tumors and HPV are quite inconsistent among different regions. Material and methods. We performed high-risk HPV DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and p16 immunohistochemistry on sinonasal carcinomas diagnosed between 2006 and 2016. Results. Of 105 sinonasal carcinomas, we found only two (2%) HPV-positive cases; both had non-keratinizing morphology and were diffusely positive for p16. By histologic type, HPV DNA positivity rate was 14% in non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas, and we did not detect HPV DNA in any other type of sinonasal carcinomas. Thirteen HPV-negative tumors (7 salivary gland carcinomas, 3 sinonasal undifferentiated carcinomas, 2 keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma) were positive for p16. In nine carcinomas arising from an underlying sinonasal papilloma, p16 and HPV DNA ISH were evaluated in both carcinoma and papilloma areas and all were negative. Follow-up information was available for 104 patients; 46 (44%) were alive and 58 (55%) died of disease. One of the two HPV-positive patients died of the disease; the other was alive at 100 months of follow-up. Conclusions. We detected a much lower percentage of HPV positivity in sinonasal carcinomas when compared to the literature. We believe that our results support various rates of HPV-related carcinomas depending on the geographic and ethnic characteristics.

Tumors of the Nose and Paranasal Sinuses: Promoting Factors and Molecular Mechanisms-A Systematic Review

Sinonasal neoplasms are uncommon diseases, characterized by heterogeneous biological behavior, which frequently results in challenges in differential diagnosis and treatment choice. The aim of this review was to examine the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumor initiation and growth, in order to better define diagnostic and therapeutic strategies as well as the prognostic impact of these rare neoplasms. A systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis criteria was conducted between September and November 2022. The authors considered the three main histological patterns of sinonasal tumors, namely Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma, and Olfactory Neuroblastoma. In total, 246 articles were eventually included in the analysis. The genetic and epigenetic changes underlying the oncogenic process were discussed, through a qualitative synthesis of the included studies. The identification of a comprehensive model of carcinogenesis for each sinonasal cancer subtype is needed, in order to pave the way toward tailored treatment approaches and improve survival for this rare and challenging group of cancers.

Towards a Molecular Classification of Sinonasal Carcinomas: Clinical Implications and Opportunities

Simple Summary

In recent years, there have been several molecular and immunohistochemical additions to the pathologic diagnosis of sinonasal malignancies that could facilitate the identification of clinically relevant groups of sinonasal malignancies. Molecular profiling is progressively integrated in the histopathologic classification of sinonasal carcinomas, and it is likely to influence the management of these tumors in the near future. In this article we review the recent literature on molecular analysis and/or subtyping of sinonasal carcinomas and we discuss the possible clinical implications of a classification of sinonasal tumors based on their molecular features.

Abstract

Sinonasal carcinomas are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors, often with high-grade and/or undifferentiated morphology and aggressive clinical course. In recent years, with increasing molecular testing, unique sinonasal tumor subsets have been identified based on specific genetic alterations, including protein expression, chromosomal translocations, specific gene mutations, or infection by oncogenic viruses. These include, among others, the identification of a subset of sinonasal carcinomas associated with HPV infection, the identification of a subset of squamous cell carcinomas with EGFR alterations, and of rare variants with chromosomal translocations (DEK::AFF2, ETV6::NTRK and others). The group of sinonasal adenocarcinomas remains very heterogeneous at the molecular level, but some recurrent and potentially targetable genetic alterations have been identified. Finally, poorly differentiated and undifferentiated sinonasal carcinomas have undergone a significant refinement of their subtyping, with the identification of several new novel molecular subgroups, such as NUT carcinoma, IDH mutated sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma and SWI/SNF deficient sinonasal malignancies. Thus, molecular profiling is progressively integrated in the histopathologic classification of sinonasal carcinomas, and it is likely to influence the management of these tumors in the near future. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in the molecular characterization of sinonasal carcinomas and we discuss how these findings are likely to contribute to the classification of this group of rare tumors, with a focus on the potential new opportunities for treatment.

EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations in Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Recurrent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations have been identified in a rare form of head and neck cancer known as sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC), a malignant disease with a 5-year mortality rate of ~40%. Interestingly, the majority of EGFR mutations identified in patients with primary SNSCC are exon 20 insertions (Ex20ins), which is in contrast to non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where the EGFR exon 19 deletion and L858R mutations predominate. These studies demonstrate that EGFR Ex20ins mutations are not exclusive to lung cancer as previously believed, but are also involved in driving SNSCC pathogenesis. Here we review the landscape of EGFR mutations in SNSCC, with a particular focus on SNSCC associated with inverted sinonasal papilloma (ISP), a benign epithelial neoplasm. Taking lessons from NSCLC, we also discuss potential new treatment options for ISP-associated SNSCC harbouring EGFR Ex20ins in the context of targeted therapies, drug resistance and precision cancer medicine. Moving forward, further basic and translational work is needed to delineate the biology of EGFR Ex20ins in SNSCC in order to develop more effective treatments for patients with this rare disease.