Research on neck dissection for oral squamous-cell carcinoma: a bibliometric analysis

Can Elective Neck Dissection for Oral Cancer Be Planned on the Basis of Depth of Invasion? Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

The literature suggests that elective neck dissection (END) may be avoided in primaries with a depth of invasion (DOI) <3 mm. This study evaluated the accuracy of DOI in predicting nodal metastases (lymph node metastasis [LNM]) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective institutional chart review, pathologic N classification (pN) was correlated with DOI using Spearman's rank-order (pN1-3) and point-biserial (pN0 v pN+) correlation statistics. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was analyzed to determine the accuracy of DOI in predicting LNM. Chi-square statistics were used to measure the association between the DOI groups and pN status (pN0; pN+). Post hoc analysis of variance with Bonferroni statistics was used to compare the three DOI groups.

RESULTS

DOI failed to demonstrate a strong positive correlation with the pN classification (ρ = 0.31; P < .001). DOI was not strongly correlated with pN status (rpb = 0.27; P < .001). ROC curve analysis suggested a poor accuracy of DOI in predicting nodal metastases (AUC = 0.67 [95% CI, 0.6 to 0.73]). A statistically significant difference in LNM (pN+) was found between the DOI >10 mm and DOI ≤10 mm primaries (P < .001 for DOI ≤5 mm; P = .016 for DOI >5 mm and ≤10 mm). However, the sensitivity and specificity achieved by ROC analysis for a DOI cutoff value of 10 mm in the present cohort were 69.3% and 57.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

DOI is a poor indicator of LNM in OSCC. The decision to perform END should not be based on the tumor DOI.

Three Decades of Photodynamic Therapy for Glioblastoma: A Comprehensive Scientometric Analysis

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), yet a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this field is lacking. This study explores research trends, major contributors, and hotspots in PDT for GBM to provide an integrated overview of its development.

METHODS

Literature from 1993 to 2024 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace, analyzed publication trends, collaborations, and keyword co-occurrence to identify influential authors, institutions, and journals.

RESULTS

A total of 799 publications showed a growing research interest, peaking in 2022. The United States and China were leading contributors, with prominent institutions like the University of California System and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Influential figures, such as Jiro Akimoto and Walter Stummer, advanced clinical applications and fluorescence-guided techniques. Early studies of PDT for GBM have focused on evaluating its efficacy and potential side effects, while recent research has transitioned toward innovative strategies like targeted drug delivery, nanotechnology, and combination therapies. However, the similarities between early and recent studies are in the search for safe and reliable photosensitizers. Keyword analysis highlighted "5-aminolevulinic acid", "in vitro", and "polyethylene glycol compounds" as key areas, while timeline analysis revealed shifts from foundational photosensitizer research to approaches addressing tumor heterogeneity and resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a systematic overview of PDT research for GBM, spotlighting breakthroughs and collaborative networks. The findings emphasize the importance of innovation and clinical translation to fully realize PDT's potential in GBM therapy.

A bibliometric analysis of the development trend of Tuina research: Based on the Web of Science (WOS) platform

BACKGROUND

Tuina has been proven to significantly relieve symptoms, demonstrating its clinical value. With the growth of related research, a comprehensive review is urgently needed to promote its development. This study aims to clarify the collaboration and current research status in the field of Tuina research using bibliometric analysis, and to discuss future directions.

METHODS

On February 4, 2023, the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched using the keywords "tuina," "tui-na," "tui na," and "Chinese massage" to collect literature related to Tuina from its inception until December 31, 2022. The collected literature included all types of research articles and reviews. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Pajek, and Scimago Graphica were utilized to perform a visual analysis of annual publication volume, as well as publication volume and collaboration networks of different countries, institutions, and authors, along with journal publication volume and keyword network analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 761 publications were included in the analysis, with the total number of papers showed an increasing trend over time. The countries and institutions with the most publications were China and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, respectively. The authors who contributed the most were Min Fang, Qingguang Zhu, Zhiwei Wu, Lingjun Kong and Yufeng Wang. The most widely published journal in the field was the Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. The clinical efficacy evaluation of Tuina therapy for musculoskeletal and spinal diseases, apoplexy sequelae, chronic diseases, and pediatric diseases were research hotspots and developing trends in this field.

CONCLUSION

The research on Tuina has been increasing year by year. Currently, the focus of Tuina research lies in clinical studies, including the treatment of skeletal muscle and spinal diseases, stroke sequelae, chronic diseases, and pediatric illnesses, with pediatric Tuina emerging as a hot topic of research. Basic research in this field is relatively scarce, and the mechanisms of action of this therapy have not yet been fully elucidated. Future efforts in this area should aim to strengthen basic research and promote cooperation among international institutions.

Virtual Tumor Mapping: A New Standard for Surgeon-Pathologist Collaboration in Treating Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: The histopathological assessment is critical in the comprehensive treatment process for patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A detailed and precise specimen characterization is essential to facilitate effective surgeon-pathologist communication. Methods: In response to this need, a user-friendly virtual communication protocol utilizing a 3D scanner has been developed. This study involved 50 patients with OSCC, whose resected tumors were directly scanned in the operating room and subsequently annotated and characterized using available software. Results: The direct application of annotations and descriptions onto the virtual tumor specimens significantly enhanced the quantity and accuracy of information conveyed to the pathologist. Conclusions: The proposed solution's repeatability and standardized approach make integration into routine clinical practice feasible, thereby establishing a potential new standard in the field.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of depression: a bibliometrics and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to reveal the current knowledge map, research hotspots of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on depression, as well as identify the brain regions associated with depression.

METHODS

CiteSpace was conducted to analyze the publication outputs, country, institution, cited journals, author and cited author, references, keyword cocurrence and burst keywords of fMRI studies in depression from 2010 to 2024. And a meta-analysis of fMRI was used to identify brain regions associated with depression using Neurosynth.

RESULTS

A total of 4,049 publications were included, and Gong Qiyong was the most prolific authors. Neuroimage, Biological Psychiatry, and Human Brain Mapping were prominent journals. Default mode network (DMN), prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex were the popular keywords. The fMRI studies on depression have mainly focused on major depression, especially the DMN. Functional connectivity and regional homogeneity of brain regions were research hotspots. The meta-analysis revealed significant differences in brain regions between patients with depression and healthy controls, including the Amygdala_L, Insula_R, Frontal_Inf_Oper_R, Cingulum_Post_L, Putamen_L, Thalamus_R, Angular_L, Precuneus_R, Frontal_Sup_R, Occipital_Inf_L.

CONCLUSIONS

This study sheds light on key issues and future directions in fMRI research on depression, elucidating the brain regions related to depression.

Progress and trends in photodynamic therapy research in oral science: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy is garnering increasing attention in oral science. Despite its promising potential, further exploration is warranted to delve into the research paradigms and evolving trends within oral science. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of photodynamic therapy in oral science (PDTOS), investigating research landscapes, identifying key contributors, analyzing collaborative networks, pinpointing emerging research directions, and exploring factors influencing high citations.

METHODS

Research and review articles in PDTOS were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database up to December 31, 2023. The R package "bibliometrix" and VOSviewer were utilized for visualizing collaboration networks and keyword co-occurrence, alongside trend analysis. Negative binomial regression was used to model factors affecting citation counts.

RESULTS

A total of 2784 articles with significant international collaboration (23.14 %) were analyzed. Brazil, China, the USA, Iran, and Italy led in publications, with predominant USA-European collaborations. The University of Sao Paulo in Brazil was the most published institution in the field. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy was the core journal in the field and has the highest number of publications. The main research fields included photodynamic therapy, antibacterial and anticancer treatment, management, and peri‑implant periodontitis, with a recent focus on peri‑implantitis. Factors such as international cooperation, funding, article age, type, author count, and references significantly influenced citations.

CONCLUSIONS

This research provided valuable insights into PDTOS trends and knowledge structures. These findings underscored a significant increase in the number of PDTOS publications, urging strengthened international cooperation. Emerging research has focused on peri‑implantitis and nano-photosensitizer materials. Authors should consider various citation-related factors in their research endeavors.

Mapping the evolving trend of research on Class III malocclusion: a bibliometric analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to provide visualized knowledge maps to show the evolving trends and key focal points of Class III malocclusion research through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Class III malocclusion research published between 2000 and 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer was utilized to count the citation and publication number of authors, institutions, countries and journals. Co-occurrence, co-citation, and cluster analyses and burst detection were conducted using CiteSpace.

RESULTS

A total of 3,682 publications on Class III malocclusion were included in the bibliometric analysis. During 2000-2023, both the annual publication count and citation frequency exhibited a gradual upward trajectory, with a noticeable surge in recent years. In terms of production and citation counts of Class III malocclusion research, the core journal is the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Furthermore, apart from the primary keyword 'Class III malocclusion', 'orthognathic surgery' was identified as keyword with the most frequency. The cluster analysis of cited references reveals that the research focal points have shifted to 'skeletal anchorage' and 'surgery-first approach'. Furthermore, the burst detection identified 'quality of life' as a potential research hotspot since it has recently gained increasing scholarly attention.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides scholars with the knowledge maps of evolving trends and prominent topics of Class III malocclusion research and a summary of research progress on various priorities during different periods. These findings are expected to provide a valuable guidance to facilitate the future research on Class III malocclusion.

Bibliometric evaluation of global trends and characteristics of RNA methylation during angiogenesis

Background

RNA methylation is involved in major life processes. Angiogenesis is a normal phenomenon that occurs constantly in the bodies of all mammals, once it is aberrant or something goes wrong, it may lead to pathological changes. The bibliometric analysis could produce a comprehensive overview of RNA methylation during angiogenesis.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was used to screen publications about RNA methylation during angiogenesis from Jan 1, 2000 to Nov 24, 2022. Bibliometric and visualization analyses were conducted to understand publication trends by CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Results

In total, 382 publications from 2000 to 2022 were included in the bibliometric and visualization analyses. On the whole, the number of publications had exponential growth. China was the country and Sun Yat-Sen University was the university associated with the largest number of publications, although publications from the United Kingdom and Soochow University were currently having the strongest impact. Cancer was the most studied topic in this field, and N6-methyladenosine is the most studied RNA methylation type.

Conclusion

There is a continuously increasing trend in publications related to RNA methylation and angiogenesis, which has attracted much attention, particularly since 2011. RNA methylation might be a promising target in the investigation of pathological angiogenesis and related disorders, which deserves further investigation.

Bibliometric and visualized analysis of randomized controlled trials in orthodontics between 1991 and 2022

INTRODUCTION

In many evidence-based approaches to orthodontic research, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) represent authoritative evidence to identify rational therapeutics. This study aimed to perform mappings of bibliometric networks on orthodontic RCTs and summarize visual characteristics between 1991 and 2022.

METHODS

The articles were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection in October 2022 without an initial time limit. Only orthodontic RCTs were eligible. Some bibliometric tools (HistCite, VOSviewer, SCImago Graphica, and CiteSpace) were applied for visualized analysis. Data such as geography, productive institutions, hot articles, journals, authors, references, and keywords were extracted and summarized for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1122 orthodontic RCTs were searched. A total of 3841 authors from 1157 institutions in 65 countries published orthodontic RCTs. The United States (149) was the most prolific country, and the University of Sao Paulo (35) was the most productive institution. The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (206) was the most popular journal for scholars. The visualization results of keyword co-occurrence identified 5 clusters: (1) tooth movement and auxiliary measures, (2) appliances and oral health, (3) orthodontic discomfort and symptomatic therapy, (4) periodontal disease in orthodontics and health maintenance, and (5) retention and relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past 31 years, publications and citations on orthodontic RCTs from the Web of Science Core Collection have increased notably across many countries, authors, and institutions. Recently, there has been a significant increase in the attention to orthodontic RCTs that focus on accelerating tooth movement.

Bibliometric insights into the evolution of uranium contamination reduction research topics: Focus on microbial reduction of uranium

Confronting the threat of environment uranium pollution, decades of research have yielded advanced and significant findings in uranium bioremediation, resulting in the accumulation of tremendous amount of high-quality literature. In this study, we analyzed over 10,000 uranium reduction-related papers published from 1990 to the present in the Web of Science based on bibliometrics, and revealed some critical information on knowledge structure, thematic evolution and additional attention. Methods including contribution comparison, co-occurrence and temporal evolution analysis are applied. The results of the distribution and impact analysis of authors, sources, and journals indicated that the United States is a leader in this field of research and China is on the rise. The top keywords remained stable, primarily focused on chemicals (uranium, iron, plutonium, nitrat, carbon), characters (divers, surfac, speciat), and microbiology (microbial commun, cytochrome, extracellular polymeric subst). Keywords related to new strains, reduction mechanisms and product characteristics demonstrated the strongest uptrend, while some keywords related to mechanism and performance were clearly emerging in the past 5 years. Furthermore, the evolution of the thematic progression can be categorized into three stages, commencing with the discovery of the enzymatic reduction of hexavalent uranium to tetravalent uranium, developing in the groundwater remediation process at uranium-contaminated sites, and delving into the research on microbial reduction mechanisms of uranium. For future research, enhancing the understanding of mechanisms, improving uranium removal performance, and exploring practical applications can be considered. This study provides unique insights into microbial uranium reduction research, providing valuable references for related studies in this field.

Research Trends in Molecular Biological Studies on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background: Since the discovery of PCR and ELISA, in vitro research in the realm of molecular biology pertaining to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has witnessed significant expansion. Objective: to provide a comprehensive overview of molecular biology research on OSCC through visual mapping techniques. Methods: We conducted an analysis of publications within the "oral squamous cell carcinoma" category from Scopus' core collection. On 20 January 2023, we screened these publications using an advanced search employing the keywords "oral squamous cell cancer" and "cell line." Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and VOSviewer, facilitating the examination of author contributions, journal productivity, institutional affiliations, and contributions by nations. VOSviewer was further utilized for co-occurrence and reference analysis of keywords. Results: A total of 781 papers spanning from 1992 to 2023 were collected. Notably, Japan, China, and the United States emerged as significant contributors in this field. The Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry (Japan) ranked first with 21 publications. Chae J-I of Chonbuk National University (South Korea) emerged as the most prolific author, with 14 publications. The International Journal of Oncology and the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine were identified as the two most prolific journals. The central themes that emerged were epidermal growth factor receptor, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis. Conclusion: The rate of publications focused on the molecular biology of OSCC has seen a remarkable increase. Research priorities have shifted from topics such as "radiation, RANKL, cyclin D1, RNA interference, and matrix metalloproteinase" to encompass areas such as "chemoresistance due to cisplatin, other therapeutic agents (metformin and monoclonal antibody), autophagy, inflammation, microRNA, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and STAT3 (with roles in cell migration and tumorigenesis)." These seven significant future research areas hold promise in identifying reliable biological markers for oral cancer detection and treatment, thereby improving clinical outcomes.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma - do we always need elective neck dissection? evaluation of clinicopathological factors of greatest prognostic significance: a cross-sectional observational study

The aim of the study was to find clinical and pathological factors with the greatest prognostic significance in patients with OSCC. The analysis included 125 patients grouped according to the tumor primary site (TPS): the floor of the mouth (FOM), tongue (TC) and retromolar triangle (RMT). Grading (G), tumor size (pT), nodal metastases (NM), local recurrence (LR), nodal recurrence (NR), perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), extranodal extension (pENE), and nodal yield (NY) were evaluated in each group.

Results

With regard to TPS, FOM appeared to be the most metastatic. However, the recurrence rate was similar to TC tumors, which were characterized by higher G than those in other locations. When analyzing G, the highest percentage of LR (40.5%) and NM (34.5%) was observed among patients with G2. As G increased, so did the number of pENE G1 - 7.4%; G2 - 31%; G3 - 35.7%; LVI: G1 - 25.9%; G2 - 50%; G3 - 57.1%; PNI: G1 - 29.6%; G2 - 47.6%; G3 - 92.9%; NR G1 - 14.8%; G2 - 32.1%; G3 - 21.4%. Grading did not affect the type of growth and did not directly affect the occurrence of NR. pT and DOI increased the frequency of NM but we did not observe any effect of pT and DOI on LR, PNI, and LVI. NY in the study group did not increase the risk of NR.

Conclusion

Tumor primary sites within the FOM, TC, and pT classification are the factors that increase the risk of NM and LR. However, apart from the primary site predisposing to the occurrence of NM, the histological structure of the tumor turned out to be the most important feature affecting the patient's prognosis. The number of cases of pENE+, LVI+, PNI+, NM+, and NR+ increased with the increase in G. Although the pT, DOI increased the frequency of NM, we did not observe the effect of the pT and DOI on LR, PNI and LVI. Thus, even in the case of a small tumor of the FOM and TC with at least G2, elective neck dissection should be performed each time.

Study of the Relationship between Mucosal Immunity and Commensal Microbiota: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study presents the first bibliometric evaluation and systematic analysis of publications related to mucosal immunity and commensal microbiota over the last two decades and summarizes the contribution of countries, institutions, and scholars in the study of this field. A total of 1423 articles related to mucosal immunity and commensal microbiota in vivo published in 532 journals by 7774 authors from 1771 institutions in 74 countries/regions were analyzed. The interaction between commensal microbiota in vivo and mucosal immunity is essential in regulating the immune response of the body, maintaining communication between different kinds of commensal microbiota and the host, and so on. Several hot spots in this field have been found to have received extensive attention in recent years, especially the effects of metabolites of key strains on mucosal immunity, the physiopathological phenomena of commensal microbiota in various sites including the intestine, and the relationship between COVID-19, mucosal immunity and microbiota. We hope that the full picture of the last 20 years in this research area provided in this study will serve to deliver necessary cutting-edge information to relevant researchers.

A preoperative nomogram model for the prediction of lymph node metastasis in buccal mucosa cancer

OBJECTIVES

We sought to construct a nomogram model predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa based on preoperative clinical characteristics.

METHODS

Patients who underwent radical resection of a primary tumor in the buccal mucosa with neck dissection were enrolled. Clinical characteristics independently associated with LNM in multivariate analyses were adopted to build the model. Patients at low risk of LNM were defined by a predicted probability of LNM of less than 5%.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent surgery in an earlier period (January 2015-November 2019) were defined as the model development cohort (n = 325), and those who underwent surgery later (November 2019-March 2021) were defined as the validation cohort (n = 140). Age, tumor differentiation, tumor thickness, and clinical N stage assessed by computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (cN) were independent predictors of LNM. The nomogram model based on these four predictors showed good discrimination accuracy in both the model development and validation cohorts, with areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.814 and 0.828, respectively. LNM prediction by the nomogram model was superior to cN in AUC comparisons (0.815 vs. 0.753) and decision curve analysis of the whole cohort. Seventy-one patients were defined as having a low risk of LNM, among whom the actual metastasis rate was only 1.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

A robust nomogram model for preoperative LNM prediction is built.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict occult cervical metastasis in early oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Lack of adequate objectivity and universality, available models are still difficult to be applied to clinical practice in predicting occult cervical metastasis of early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Taking abnormal metabolic state into consideration, the current model is helpful to distinguish those patients with or without occult cervical metastasis.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 330 OSCC patients initially diagnosed cT1-2N0M0 stage and received neck dissection from January 2020 to July 2022. The occult cervical metastasis was identified by pathological examination.. After screening independent risk factors using logistic regression, patients were divided into training and validation cohorts at the ratio of 2:1 randomly, and a novel diagnostic model was constructed. Performances of this model were evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC), calibrating curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC).

Results

Of the 330 included patients {age mean [standard deviation (SD)], 61.24 (12.99) years; 202 (61.2%) males}, 49 (14.8%) had occult nodal metastasis. Five variables, including body mass index (BMI) [high odds ratio (OR): 1.132; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.019-1.258, P=0.021], primary tumor site (tongue & floor of mouth (TF) OR: 3.756; 95% CI: 1.295-10.898, P=0.015), depth of invasion (DOI) (5-10 mm OR: 2.973; 95% CI: 1.266-6.981; P=0.012), pathological differentiation (Poor differentiation OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.341-5.239; P=0.005), and diabetes (OR: 3.123; 95% CI: 1.23-7.929; P=0.017) were screened to establish the predictive model. In training cohort (n=220), this model achieved an AUC of 0.814 and had a sensitivity of 78.1% and specificity of 70.2%. Calibration plots showed favorable consistency between the prediction of the model and actual observations (Hosmer-Lemeshow value >0.05). Decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC) showed the model was clinically useful and had better discriminative ability under the threshold probability of 0.5. Above evaluations were verified in the validation cohort (n=110). Compared to previous reported models, the concordance index (C-index), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) values were superior in both training and validation cohorts (P<0.05).

Conclusions

This constructed model might have reference value for clinicians in making neck management decisions of early OSCC patients.

A bibliometric analysis of research on craniomaxillofacial distraction osteogenesis from 2000 to 2021

Objective

This study collected and summarized publications related to craniomaxillofacial distraction osteogenesis(DO) from 2000 to 2021, investigated trends in related research, and compared publications from different countries, institutions and journals. The aim is showcasing hotspots and frontiers in the field and providing a reference for future research.

Background

Craniomaxillofacial DO serves to treat different types of craniomaxillofacial dysplasia and bone defects and deformities. DO can significantly reduce surgical trauma, complications, and recurrence rate compared to conventional surgery. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analyses regarding Craniomaxillofacial DO.

Methods

CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to analyze and visualize 3,141 articles and reviews searching through the Web of Science Core Collection(WOSCC) to obtain publications on craniomaxillofacial DO from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021.

Results

In the last 21 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of publications. The United States, the People's Republic of China, and Italy produce the vast majority of publications. University of Milan and University of Bologna are the most influential in this field. McCarthy JG is the most influential author. Obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ ankylosis and cleft lip and palate are potential research direction in this field.

Conclusion

Future research should focus on the precise indications and optimal timing of craniomaxillofacial DO and the evaluation of the long-term outcomes of various modified procedures. This study provides a relatively objective reference for related researchers, medical practitioners, and global health systems.

T-Cell Infiltration and Immune Checkpoint Expression Increase in Oral Cavity Premalignant and Malignant Disorders

The immune cell niche associated with oral dysplastic lesion progression to carcinoma is poorly understood. We identified T regulatory cells (Treg), CD8+ effector T cells (Teff) and immune checkpoint molecules across oral dysplastic stages of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). OPMD and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue sections (N = 270) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for Treg (CD4, CD25 and FoxP3), Teff (CD8) and immune checkpoint molecules (PD-1 and PD-L1). The Treg marker staining intensity correlated significantly (p < 0.01) with presence of higher dysplasia grade and invasive cancer. These data suggest that Treg infiltration is relatively early in dysplasia and may be associated with disease progression. The presence of CD8+ effector T cells and the immune checkpoint markers PD-1 and PD-L1 were also associated with oral cancer progression (p < 0.01). These observations indicate the induction of an adaptive immune response with similar Treg and Teff recruitment timing and, potentially, the early induction of exhaustion. FoxP3 and PD-L1 levels were closely correlated with CD8 levels (p < 0.01). These data indicate the presence of reinforcing mechanisms contributing to the immune suppressive niche in high-risk OPMD and in OSCC. The presence of an adaptive immune response and T-cell exhaustion suggest that an effective immune response may be reactivated with targeted interventions coupled with immune checkpoint inhibition.

FAM64A promotes HNSCC tumorigenesis by mediating transcriptional autoregulation of FOXM1

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) still lacks effective targeted treatment. Therefore, exploring novel and robust molecular targets is critical for improving the clinical outcome of HNSCC. Here, we reported that the expression levels of family with sequence similarity 64, member A (FAM64A) were significantly higher in HNSCC tissues and cell lines. In addition, FAM64A overexpression was found to be strongly associated with an unfavorable prognosis of HNSCC. Both in vitro and in vivo evidence showed that FAM64A depletion suppressed the malignant activities of HNSCC cells, and vice versa. Moreover, we found that the FAM64A level was progressively increased from normal to dysplastic to cancerous tissues in a carcinogenic 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide mouse model. Mechanistically, a physical interaction was found between FAM64A and forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) in HNSCC cells. FAM64A promoted HNSCC tumorigenesis not only by enhancing the transcriptional activity of FOXM1, but also, more importantly, by modulating FOXM1 expression via the autoregulation loop. Furthermore, a positive correlation between FAM64A and FOXM1 was found in multiple independent cohorts. Taken together, our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism behind the activation of FOXM1 in HNSCC, and FAM64A might be a promising molecular therapeutic target for treating HNSCC.

Identification of Candidate Target Genes and Immune Cells in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

The advance of new treatment strategies for more effective management of oral cancer requires identification of novel biological targets. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify novel biomarkers associated with oral tumorigenesis and prognostic signature by comparing gene expression profile of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Methods

Four datasets including GSE25099, GSE30784, GSE37991, and GSE41613 were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, Cox model analysis, identification of key genes, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were also performed. The xCell was utilized to analyze the infiltration levels of immune cells.

Results

A total of 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be dysregulated in OSCC. These genes were mainly enriched in ECM receptor interaction and focal adhesion. Cox regression analysis identified 10 genes considered as key genes. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that low expression of SERPINE1 (also known as PAI-1), high expression of CD1C, and C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) were associated with well prognostic status in OSCC patients. In addition, we constructed a 3-immune-cell signature (myeloid dendritic cell, T cell CD4⁺ central memory, and common myeloid progenitor) that may be used to predict the survival status of OSCC patients.

Conclusion

Three key genes and 3-immune-cell signature were potential biomarkers for the prognosis of OSCC, and they may serve as potential targets for the treatment of OSCC patients.

Trends and Frontiers of Research on Cancer Gene Therapy From 2016 to 2020: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background: With rapid development in molecular biology techniques and a greater understanding of cancer pathogenesis, the growing attention has been concentrated on cancer gene therapy, with numerous articles on this topic published in recent 5 years. However, there is lacking a bibliometric analysis of research on cancer gene therapy. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis to provide the trends and frontiers of research on cancer gene therapy during 2016-2020. Methods: We utilized CiteSpace 5.7.R5 software to conduct a bibliometric analysis of publications on cancer gene therapy published during 2016-2020. The bibliometric records were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection. Results: A total of 4,392 papers were included in the bibliometric analysis. Materials Science and Nanoscience and Nanotechnology took an increasing part in the field of cancer gene therapy. Additionally, WANG W was the most productive author, while ZHANG Y ranked top in terms of citations. Harvard Medical School and Sichuan University ranked top in the active institutions. P NATL ACAD SCI USA was identified as the core journal in the field of cancer gene therapy. "Ovarian cancer" was found to be the latest keyword with the strongest burst. The keyword analysis suggested that the top three latest clusters were labeled "gene delivery," "drug delivery," and "gene therapy." In the reference analysis, cluster#2 labeled "gene delivery" held a dominant place considering both the node volume and mean year. Conclusion: The academic attention on cancer gene therapy was growing at a dramatically high speed. Materials Science and Nanoscience and Nanotechnology might become promising impetus for the development of this field. "Gene delivery" was thought to best reflect the research frontier on cancer gene therapy. The top-cited articles on gene delivery were focused on several novel non-viral vectors due to their specialty compared with viral vectors. "Ovarian cancer" was likely to be the potential research direction. These findings would help medical workers conduct further investigations on cancer gene therapy.