Biological behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma in the background of novel corona virus infection

Therapeutic Potential of Phytochemicals as Adjuvants in Head and Neck Cancer

Owing to the developments in various therapeutic modalities, cancer treatment has come a long way, including the discovery of various anticancer drugs, innovations in delivery technology, and increased personalization of treatments. Despite this, head and neck cancer (HNC) is a cancer that has eluded the current conventional treatments. To improve quality of life and preserve vital organ function in patients with HNC, there is a need for research into therapeutic regimes that would reduce the toxicity of the current therapeutic modalities. The use of a single approach has not been enough to completely eradicate this malignancy. Therefore, the use of adjuvants and combinatorial approaches, using molecules from natural compounds that have no or minimal side effects, is a growing area of research. One objective of this review was to clarify the potentiality of novel therapeutic strategies for HNC, such as the use of phytochemicals as adjuvants with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and use of nano-formulation for therapeutic delivery. Another objective of this review was to delineate the associated challenges in the clinical application of these therapies in HNC. Possible strategies for overcoming critical issues associated with the clinical application of phytochemicals for HNC are also discussed.

Exploring the combined roles of GALNT1 and GALNT2 in hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy and EGFR modulation

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most formidable subtype of primary liver cancers, is becoming increasingly concerning due to its rising incidence worldwide. HCC ranks as the sixth most diagnosed cancer globally and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Glycosylation, a common post-translational modification of proteins, is frequently altered in tumors and is associated with the progression of malignancies. GALNT1 and GALNT2 are GalNAc-transferases that initiate protein O-glycosylation and are closely linked to cancer development. Investigating the relationship between GALNT1 and GALNT2 in HCC could provide new insights into the disease's pathogenesis. Thus, this study aimed to explore the combined effects of GALNT1 and GALNT2 transfection on HCC, compared to the effects of modifying each gene individually.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GALNT1 and GALNT2 were assessed by bioinformatics, qPCR, and Western blot analyses to detect their expression in HCC tissues and cell lines. The effects of GALNT1/GALNT2 overexpression and knockdown on cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated in HCC cells using CCK8, colony formation, transwell migration and invasion, wound healing, TUNEL, and flow cytometry assays. EGFR protein levels were also analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Co-transfection of GALNT1 knockdown with GALNT2 overexpression significantly suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoting apoptosis in HCC cells. Conversely, co-transfection of GALNT1 overexpression with GALNT2 knockdown enhanced these malignant characteristics compared to the modified single gene. Notably, we observed that GALNT1 and GALNT2 modulated EGFR protein expression. Overall, our findings suggest that the combined activity of GALNT1 and GALNT2 is critical in regulating HCC malignant behaviors.

Efficiency of different treatment modalities on radiation induced trismus for maxillofacial cases: a parallel randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

For more than 80% of patients with head and neck cancer, radiation therapy (RT) is a crucial component of their treatment plane which causes impairment for the masticatory apparatus functions leading to trismus. The study objective was to compare the efficacy of different treatment modalities for patients with RT-induced trismus on maximum mouth opening (MMO), visual analogue scale (VAS) (primary outcomes) patient satisfaction (secondary outcome).

METHODS

Thirty-six patients with trismus after radiation therapy were classified equally and randomly into three groups (n = 12 per group): Group A was given threaded tapered screw appliance therapy (TTSA), Group B was given low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and Group C was given both threaded tapered screw appliance and low-level laser therapy (LLLT + TTSA). Maximum mouth opening (MMO), visual analogue scale (VAS) and Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ) scores and time required to achieve normal state were evaluated at baseline, 1, 2, 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Data were collected and analysed using SPSS software.

RESULTS

Regarding VAS and MMO, there was a statistically significant difference at different times of evaluation within all groups where (P <.0001). Regarding GTQ, group C recorded the least values for GTQ symptoms followed by group B followed by group A. Between groups A, B, and C at six months, there was a statistically significant difference for VAS. At three and six months, there was a statistically significant difference between all groups for MMO. At three and six months, there was a statistically significant difference between groups for all GTQ domains.

CONCLUSION

All available therapy modalities have the potential to effectively improve radiation induced trismus; however, the combination of TTSA and LLLT group appears to yield the most rapid and optimal enhancement.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER

(NCT06413628) (05/12/2024) Retrospectively registered.

Autoimmunity and epithelial dysplasia in patients with oral lichenoid diseases

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to explore relationship between autoimmunity and epithelial dysplasia in patients with oral lichenoid diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 66 patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), 35 with oral lichenoid lesion (OLL), and 85 with oral lichenoid drug reaction (OLDR) were enrolled. OLP, OLL, and OLDR were diagnosed following the definitions of the modified World Health Organization criteria, except for the absence of epithelial dysplasia. All patients underwent diagnostic incisional biopsy and adjunctive direct immunofluorescence assays. An indirect immunofluorescence assay was conducted to determine the antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity.

RESULTS

OLP and OLDR patients with epithelial dysplasia demonstrated higher prevalence of serum ANA positivity compared to those without epithelial dysplasia. Elevated serum levels of high sensitivity-C reactive proteins were observed in the OLP, OLL, and OLDR patients with epithelial dysplasia. In the DIF analysis, patients with epithelial dysplasia in the OLP exhibited a higher prevalence of C3 deposition in the basement membrane zone.

CONCLUSIONS

This study proposed that autoimmunity may contribute to elevating levels of focal and chronic systemic inflammation, potentially influencing abnormal wound healing and development of dysplastic changes in the oral epithelium among patients with oral lichenoid disease.

Human papilomaviru-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and radiomics: A new era?

BACKGROUND

The increase of the incidence of human papillomavirus dependent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is alarming, although we have greatly progressed in the classification and staging of this disease. We now know that human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is a sub-type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with favourable prognosis and good response to therapy that needs a proper system of classification and staging. Thus, in routine practice it is essential to test patients for the presence of human papillomavirus. The most popular technique to assess human papillomavirus status is immunohistochemistry on biopsy samples with p16, which is an excellent surrogate for high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Another highly sensitive and specific tissue-based technique for the detection of human papillomavirus is RNAscope In situ hybridization that has a prohibitive cost, limiting its use in routine practice. Radiomics is an artificial intelligence based non-invasive method of computational analysis of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and ultrasound images.

METHODS

In this review, we summarise the last findings of radiomics applied to human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

RESULTS

A growing body of evidence suggest that radiomics is able to characterise and detect early relapse after treatment, and enable development of tailored therapy of human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Analysis of Cytological Misdiagnosis and Oversight of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Gland

OBJECTIVE

In this article on adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland, we intend to summarize the causes of misdiagnosis and oversight of ACC hoping to improve cytological diagnostic accuracy, clinical management and patient treatment.

METHODS

The study retrospectively reviewed 32 patients with ACC of salivary gland, registered at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from July 2014 to June 2021. These cases were diagnosed by FNA and surgical excision biopsy. All cytopathological results were retrospectively categorized according to Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology (MSRSGC). The accuracy of FNA was verified by surgical excision biopsy.

RESULTS

Of these 32 patients, 16 (50.0%) cases were male, and 16 (50.0%) were female. Their age ranged from 21 to 79 years, with an average age of 50.32 years. The highest incidence (15/32, 46.9%) of ACC was observed in patients between 41 and 50 years of age. 10 cases (31.3%) occurred in the parotid gland, 9 cases (28.1%) in the submandibular gland, 9 cases (28.1%) in the sublingual gland, 3 cases (9.4%) in the palate, and 1 case (3.1%) in the lip. Among the 32 cases of ACC, 23 cases (71.9%) were classified to VI, 4 cases (12.5%) to IVa, and 5 cases (15.6%) to II by MSRSGC. A comparison of the FNA results with biopsy showed that the accuracy of FNA in ACC of salivary gland is 71.9%. Being able to identify the cytomorphological features is the key factor for accurate diagnosis of ACC of the salivary gland.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm that FNA is an important initial screening in the diagnosis of ACC of salivary gland. Increased study of the cytomorphology of ACC is beneficial for more accurate diagnosis of ACC, to reduce misdiagnosis and oversight.

COVID-19 and oral cancer: Critical viewpoint

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has marked the beginning of a new pandemic named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization has announced it as a health emergency that is of international concern. The disease has been reported to cause respiratory illness, pneumonia and even hinder the immunity of an individual. Individuals with disturbed immune responses have been found to be quite susceptible to this viral infection. Oral cancer patients are also at high risk in this pandemic situation and might encounter severe detrimental outcomes. Angiotensin receptors, documented in studies as the path of entry of this virus, are highly expressed in the epithelial cells of oral mucosa, making the group of individuals with oral cancers even more vulnerable. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer is another potential target for SARS-CoV-2. An exhaustion of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 cell receptors leads to protumoral effects, whereas a downregulation of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer leads to antitumoral effects. Thus, it causes a variation of the biological behavior of the tumor. This article focusses on the molecular mechanisms, effects and patho-physiology of COVID-19 in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The different molecular changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma in the background of COVID-19 will modify various environmental factors for this pathology and have an effect on the carcinogenesis process. Understanding the behavior of the tumor will help plan advanced treatment strategies for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in the background of COVID-19.

Epstein-Barr virus DNA change level combined with tumor volume reduction ratio after inductive chemotherapy as a better prognostic predictor in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

To explore the prognosis predicting ability of the combined factors, Epstein-Barr virus DNA change level (EBVCL) and tumor volume reduction ratio (TVRR) after inductive chemotherapy (IC), in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC).

METHODS

From 2010 to 2018, 299 LANPC patients were included in this retrospective study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to acquire the best critical values. According to the best critical values of EBVCL and TVRR, patients were stratified into low- and high-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier and ROC curve analyses were utilized to verify the prognostic ability of the new predictor (EBVCL+TVRR). The prognostic values among EBVCL+TVRR, EBVCL, TVRR, TNM stage, and the RECIST 1.1 criteria were compared by ROC curve. The primary end points were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS).

RESULTS

ROC curve analyses of TVRR on three-year survival showed the best critical values of TVRR was 32.72% for OS, 30.21% for PFS and LRFFS, 29.87% for DMFS. The best critical value of EBVCL was 127 copies/ml for OS, and 87.7 copies/ml for PFS, DMFS, and LRFFS. The three-year OS, PFS, DMFS, and LRFFS for low- and high-risk groups were 97.7% versus 78.3% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.2398; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1277-0.4502; p < 0.0001), 91.1% versus 60.9% (HR = 0.3294; 95% CI: 0.2050-0.5292; p < 0.0001), 94.2% versus 68.7% (HR = 0.2413; 95% CI: 0.1284-0.4535; p < 0.0001) and 97.8% versus 77.9% (HR = 0.3078; 95% CI: 0.1700-0.5573; p = 0.0001), respectively. The maximal area under ROC curve of EBVCL+TVRR, EBVCL, TVRR, TNM stage, and RECIST 1.1 criteria for three-year OS was 0.829, 0.750, 0.711, 0.555, and 0.605, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The new-developed indicator (EBVCL+TVRR) could better predict the LANPC patient's survival after IC compared with TNM stage system or RECIST 1.1 criteria.

Radiomics for Diagnosis and Radiotherapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor of the head and neck. The primary clinical manifestations are nasal congestion, blood-stained nasal discharge, headache, and hearing loss. It occurs frequently in Southeast Asia, North Africa, and especially in southern China. Radiotherapy is the main treatment, and currently, imaging examinations used for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of NPC include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET)-CT, and PET-MRI. These methods play an important role in target delineation, radiotherapy planning design, dose evaluation, and outcome prediction. However, the anatomical and metabolic information obtained at the macro level of images may not meet the increasing accuracy required for radiotherapy. As a technology used for mining deep image information, radiomics can provide further information for the diagnosis and treatment of NPC and promote individualized precision radiotherapy in the future. This paper reviews the application of radiomics in the diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The feasibility and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation for multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for patients with multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of patients who underwent ultrasound (US)-guided PLA for primary PTMC were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into a multifocal PTMC (multi-PTMC) group and a unifocal PTMC (uni-PTMC) group. Before PLA, conventional US and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) were performed to evaluate the PTMC and cervical lymph nodes. The operation time, energy, power, amount of isolation liquid, and complications during PLA were recorded. Patients were followed up at 2 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, and every 6 months after that. Volume reduction rate (VRR), local tumor recurrence, and lymph node metastasis after PLA were observed.

RESULTS

The study included 12 patients with 26 PTMCs and 60 patients with 60 PTMCs. The operation time, total energy, and amount of isolation liquid in the multi-PTMC group were more than those in the uni-PTMC group (p = 0.000, 0.007, and 0.020, respectively). The mean follow-up durations in multi-PTMC and uni-PTMC groups were 19.75 ± 11.46 months (6-36 months) and 16.33 ± 10.01 months (4-40 months), with a similar VRR of the ablated lesions in the two groups. One and three cases with newly developed PTMCs were observed in the multi-PTMC group and the uni-PTMC group during follow-up, respectively. There was no regrowth of treated lesions, lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis. At the end of the follow-up, all the ablated lesions in the two groups completely disappeared or only remained scar strips.

CONCLUSION

PLA is a safe and effective technique for treating multifocal PTMC, which might be an alternative technique for patients who are not eligible or are unwilling to undergo surgery.

Clear Cell Carcinoma in the Oral Cavity with Three Novel Types of EWSR1-ATF1 Translocation: A Case Report

Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) is a rare epithelial malignant tumor of the salivary glands. It is characterized by tumor cells with clear cytoplasm, hyalinized stroma, and most importantly the fusion genes EWSR1-ATF1, EWSR1-CREM, and EWSR1-PLAG1. Break-apart FISH has been performed for multiple CCC cases, but direct sequencing analysis has been performed in relatively few. Herein, we report an interesting case of CCC harboring three EWSR1-ATF1 translocations: EWSR1 exon 8-ATF1 exon 4, EWSR1 exon 7-ATF1 exon 4, and EWSR1 exon 7-ATF1 exon 5. This case indicates the possibility of independent EWSR1-ATF1 gene translocations, and could provide insight into CCC tumorgenesis.

Identification of crucial long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs along with related regulatory networks through microarray analysis in esophageal carcinoma

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a tremendous threat to human health and life worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as crucial players in carcinomas including EC. An in-depth understanding on regulatory networks of lncRNAs contributes to the better management of EC. In this text, 2052 lncRNAs and 3240 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in 5 EC tumor tissues versus adjacent normal tissues by microarray analysis. Moreover, 297 carcinoma-related genes were screened out according to pathway and disease annotation analyses. In addition, 410 potential lncRNA-mRNA cis-regulation pairs and 395 lncRNA-mRNA trans-regulation pairs were screened out. Among these genes, 14 trans-regulated and 19 cis-regulated genes were found to be related with carcinomas. Additionally, 42 possible lncRNA-mRNA trans-regulation pairs and 26 cis-regulation pairs were found to be related with carcinomas. Also, 4 differentially expressed transcription factors in EC and lncRNAs possibly regulated by these transcription factors were screened out. Moreover, plenty of common upregulated or downregulated lncRNAs and mRNAs in EC were identified by comparative analysis for our microarray outcomes and previous high-throughput data. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ENST00000437781.1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and facilitated cell apoptosis by downregulating SIX homeobox 4 (SIX4) and ENST00000524987.1 knockdown had no influence on anoctamin 1 calcium activated chloride channel (ANO1) expression in EC cells. In conclusion, we identified some crucial lncRNAs and genes along with potential regulatory networks of lncRNAs/genes, deepening our understanding on pathogenesis of EC.

Prognostic value of lymph node ratio in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Several recent studies have indicated that the lymph node ratio (LNR) is an independent prognostic factor for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC). The purpose of this paper is to assess the prognostic value of LNR and explore appropriate cutoff values by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Pubmed, Embase (via Ovid), and Cochrane library were systematically searched for studies on the prognostic value of LNR in LHSCC up to October 31, 2019. Then, Literature review, data extraction, and quality assessment of eligible studies were performed by two independent reviewers back-to-back. Lastly, Stata 14.0 software was hired to conduct a meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 445 articles were retrieved, and 13 studies published in English between 2013 and 2019 were included after the title/abstract and full-text screening. Among the 13 studies contributed to 4197 patients, seven studies were about hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC), four studies about laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and the remaining two studies about LHSCC. The meta-analysis results showed that shorter overall survival (OS) (HR 1.49; 95%CI: 1.18 to 1.88), disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR 1.66; 95%CI: 1.32 to 2.07) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 2.04; 95%CI: 1.54 to 2.71) were significantly correlated with a higher LNR in a random-effect model. The cutoff values of eligible studies were varied from 0.03 to 0.14, and the lowest significant LNR was 0.044.

Conclusion

LNR is a valuable prognostic factor in the survival of LHSCC and may be used to improve the tumor staging systems, which, however, requires the solid support of more high-quality studies.

A Preliminary Study of CT Texture Analysis for Characterizing Epithelial Tumors of the Parotid Gland

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore and validate the diagnostic performance of whole-volume CT texture features in differentiating the common benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the parotid gland.

Materials and Methods

Contrast-enhanced CT images of 83 patients with common benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the parotid gland confirmed by histopathology were retrospectively analyzed, including 50 patients with pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and 33 patients with malignant epithelial tumors. Quantitative texture features of tumors were extracted from CT images of arterial phase. The diagnostic performance of texture features was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under ROC curve (AUC). The specificity and sensitivity were respectively discussed by the maximum Youden’s index.

Results

All the texture features were subject to normal distribution and homoscedasticity. Energy, mean, correlation, and sum entropy of epithelial malignancy group were significantly higher than those of PA group (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between PA group and epithelial malignancy group in uniformity, entropy, skewness, kurtosis, contrast, and difference entropy (P>0.05). The AUC of each texture feature and joint diagnostic model was 0.887 (energy), 0.734 (mean), 0.739 (correlation), 0.623 (sum entropy), 0.888 (energy-mean), 0.883 (energy-correlation), 0.784 (mean-correlation). The diagnostic efficiency of energy-mean was the best. Based on the maximum Youden’s index, the specificity of energy-correlation was the highest (97%) and the sensitivity of energy was the highest (97%).

Conclusion

Energy, mean, correlation, and sum entropy can be the effective quantitative texture features to differentiate the benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the parotid gland. With higher AUC, energy and energy-mean are superior to other indexes or joint diagnostic models in differentiating the benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the parotid gland. CT texture analysis can be used as a noninvasive and valuable means of preoperative assessment of parotid epithelial tumors without additional cost to the patients.

Assessment of Masticatory Function in Oral Cancer Patients with Mandibulectomy Followed by Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap Reconstruction

Mandibular resections have a dramatic effect on oral cavity functions. Ablative surgical defects are complex which are better reconstructed with free flaps. In developing countries like India, where majority of patients come from low socioeconomic status, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is the most preferred reconstructive option. A retrospective questionnaire study was carried out to assess the mastication in patients with mandibulectomy followed by pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction. At the end of the study, it was observed that 86.6% of the patients had a good performance despite the lack of bony reconstruction. Thus, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap still stands strong in reconstructing large oral cavity defects.

Immunohistochemical assessment of growth factor signaling molecules: MAPK, Akt, and STAT3 pathways in oral epithelial precursor lesions and squamous cell carcinoma

Several growth factors and their receptors, such as epidermal growth factor receptor, have been studied as prognostic biomarkers for many epithelial malignancies. The signal transduction cascade of those receptors includes RAS/RAF/ERK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and STAT3 pathways. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of several key proteins of those pathways in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral epithelial precursor lesions (OEPLs), and to correlate the expressions of these proteins with clinicopathologic features and prognosis. Fifteen leukoplakia (LP), 15 low-grade epithelial dysplasia, 15 high-grade epithelial dysplasia (HD), and 132 OSCC specimens were immunohistochemically examined for KRAS, HRAS, NRAS, BRAF, pERK1/2, pAkt, pmTOR, and pSTAT3 expression. Immunoreactivity for these molecules predominantly occurred in regions OEPL basal to prickle layers and in most OSCC cells. KRAS and NRAS expression was significantly lower in OSCC than in OEPLs, while pAkt and pmTOR showed higher expression in OSCC than in OEPLs. pERK1/2 expression was significantly higher in HD than in LP. In OSCC, KRAS and NRAS immunoreactivity was significantly higher in advanced age and male gender. In addition, higher immunoreactivity was shown in pERK1/2 in female gender and advanced TNM stage, pAkt in advanced T classification and cases without postoperative metastasis, pmTOR in advanced mode of invasion, and pSTAT3 in invasion depth. Correlations between these markers and clinicopathological variables were also noted. MAPK, Akt, and STAT3 pathways might play diverse roles in oral carcinogenesis.

Anti-tumor Effect of Rhaponticum uniflorum Ethyl Acetate Extract by Regulation of Peroxiredoxin1 and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Oral Cancer

Objective: To explore whether Rhaponticum uniflorum (R. uniflorum) had anti-tumor effects in oral cancer and investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in these anti-tumor effects.

Methods: Chemical compositions of R. uniflorum ethyl acetate (RUEA) extracts were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Q/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS), followed by pharmacology-based network prediction analysis. The effects of RUEA extracts on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion ability of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line SCC15 were evaluated by CCK8 assay, Annexin V- fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining, wound healing assay, and Matrigel invasion assay, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of peroxiredoxin1 (Prx1), the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker E-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. A mouse xenograft model of SCC15 cells was established to further evaluate the effect of RUEA extracts in vivo. Immunohistochemical assessment of Ki67 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining of apoptotic cells were performed on the tumor tissues to assess the effects of RUEA extracts on proliferation and apoptosis.

Results: Fourteen compounds were identified from RUEA extracts by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The pharmacology-based network prediction analysis showed that Prx1 could be a potential binder of RUEA extracts. In SCC15 cells, RUEA extracts inhibited cell viability, induced apoptosis, and suppressed cell invasion and migration in a concentration-dependent manner. After treatment with RUEA extracts, the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin increased, whereas those of Prx1, vimentin, and Snail decreased. RUEA extracts also affected the EMT program and suppressed cell invasion and migration in Prx1 knockdown SCC15 cells. In an OSCC mouse xenograft model, RUEA extracts (25 and 250 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the growth of tumors. Compared with the control group, Ki67 expression was reduced and apoptosis rates were elevated in the transplanted tumors treated with RUEA extracts. RUEA extracts increased the expression of E-cadherin and decreased the expression of Prx1, vimentin, and Snail in vivo.

Conclusion: RUEA extracts inhibited tumor growth and invasion by reducing Prx1 expression and suppressing the EMT process in OSCC. RUEA extracts may be a potential candidate for OSCC treatment.

Gene expression profiling to predict recurrence of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: discovery and external validation

OBJECTIVES

To establish a prognostic signature for locally advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) patients treated with surgery.

RESULTS

In the discovery study, unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis identified two clusters which differentiated the Kaplan-Meier curves of RFS [median RFS, 111 days vs. not reached; log-rank test, P = 0.023]. The 30 genes identified were combined into a dichotomous PI. In the validation cohort, classification according to the PI was associated with RFS [median RFS, 754 days vs. not reached; log-rank test, P = 0.026 in GSE31056] and DSS [median DSS, 540 days vs. not reached; log-rank test, P = 0.046 in GSE42743 and 443 days vs. not reached; P < 0.001 in GSE41613]. Among genes, positive immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin 4 was associated with favorable prognostic values for RFS (hazard ratio (HR), 0.591, P = 0.045) and DSS (HR, 0.333, P = 0.004).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted gene expression profiling of 26 clinicopathologically homogeneous advanced TSCC tissue samples using cDNA microarray as a discovery study. Candidate genes were screened using clustering analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis for relapse-free survival (RFS). These were combined into a prognostic index (PI), which was validated using three public microarray datasets of tongue and oral cancer (123 patients). Some genes identified in discovery were immunohistochemically examined for protein expression in another 127 TSCC patients.

CONCLUSION

We identified robust molecular markers that showed significant associations with prognosis in TSCC patients. Gene expression profiling data were successfully converted to protein expression profiling data.

Modifying effect of mouse double minute-2 promoter variants on risk of recurrence for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx

Functional mouse double minute-2 (MDM2) promoter variants may alter MDM2 expression and thus affect radiotherapy response and prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx (SCCOP). Thus we assessed association of 2 functional MDM2 promoter variants with recurrence risk of SCCOP. The disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with MDM2rs2279744 TT or MDM2rs937283 AA genotypes was significantly reduced compared with that of patients with corresponding GT/GG or AG/GG genotypes. Multivariable analysis showed patients with TT or AA genotypes had a significantly higher risk of SCCOP recurrence than those with corresponding GT/GG or AG/GG genotypes did. Furthermore, patients with combined risk genotypes of the 2 polymorphisms had significantly worse DFS and a higher recurrence risk than patients with fewer combined risk genotypes did (P_trend < 0.001). Compared with patients with 0 risk genotypes, patients with 1 or 2 risk genotypes had an approximately 3- or 11-fold increased risk of SCCOP recurrence, respectively. Notably, for both individual and combined polymorphisms, the above similar recurrence risks were particularly higher among patients with human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive tumors. Taken together, our findings suggest that MDM2 promoter variants individually, or more likely jointly, play a role in determining the risk of recurrence of SCCOP, particularly HPV-positive SCCOP.

An unusual odontogenic myxoma in mandible and submandibular region: a rare case report

An otherwise healthy 14-year-old male was referred to our hospital for the evaluation of a mass that was noticed 2 months previously. The mass was located in the left submandibular area. Comprehensive imaging examinations including panoramic radiography, CT and positron emission tomography-CT were performed. Appropriate surgical management and histopathological examination were taken for the patient. Histopathological examination demonstrated an odontogenic myxoma.