Checkpoint Inhibition in Addition to Dabrafenib/Trametinib for BRAFV600E-Mutated Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Background: The dabrafenib plus trametinib combination (DT) has revolutionized the treatment of BRAFV600E-mutated anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (BRAFm-ATC). However, patients eventually develop resistance and progress. Single-agent anti-PD-1 inhibitor spartalizumab has shown a median overall survival (mOS) of 5.9 months. Combination of immunotherapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAF/MEKi) seems to improve outcomes compared with BRAF/MEKi alone, although no direct comparison is available. BRAF-targeted therapy before surgery (neoadjuvant approach) has also shown improvement in survival. We studied the efficacy and safety of DT plus pembrolizumab (DTP) compared with current standard-of-care DT alone as an initial treatment, as well as in the neoadjuvant setting. Methods: Retrospective single-center study of patients with BRAFm-ATC treated with first-line BRAF-directed therapy between January 2014 and March 2023. Three groups were evaluated: DT, DTP (pembrolizumab added upfront or at progression), and neoadjuvant (DT before surgery, and pembrolizumab added before or after surgery). The primary endpoint was mOS between DT and DTP. Secondary endpoints included median progression-free survival (mPFS) and response rate with DT versus DTP as initial treatments, and the exploratory endpoint was mOS in the neoadjuvant group. Results: Seventy-one patients were included in the primary analysis: n = 23 in DT and n = 48 in DTP. Baseline demographics were similar between groups, including the presence of metastatic disease at start of treatment (p = 0.427) and prior treatments with surgery (p = 0.864) and radiation (p = 0.678). mOS was significantly longer with DTP (17.0 months [confidence interval CI, 11.9-22.1]) compared with DT alone (9.0 months [CI, 4.5-13.5]), p = 0.037. mPFS was also significantly improved with DTP as the initial treatment (11.0 months [CI, 7.0-15.0]) compared with DT alone (4.0 months [CI, 0.7-7.3]), p = 0.049. Twenty-three patients were in the exploratory neoadjuvant group, where mOS was the longest (63.0 months [CI, 15.5-110.5]). No grade 5 adverse events (AEs) occurred in all three cohorts, and 32.4% had immune-related AEs, most frequently hepatitis and colitis. Conclusions: Our results show that in BRAFm-ATC, addition of pembrolizumab to dabrafenib/trametinib may significantly prolong survival. Surgical resection of the primary tumor after initial BRAF-targeted therapy in selected patients may provide further survival benefit. However, conclusions are limited by the retrospective nature of the study. Additional prospective data are needed to confirm this observation.

Survival Outcomes of Temporal Bone Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis, and optimal treatment for advanced cases is uncertain. Our systematic literature review aimed to assess 5-year survival outcomes for advanced TBSCC across different treatment modalities.

DATA SOURCES

EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for articles published between January 1989 and June 2023.

RESULTS

The review yielded 1229 citations of which 31 provided 5-year survival data for TBSCC. The final analysis included 1289 patients. T classification data was available for 1269 patients and overall stage for 1033 patients. Data for 5-year overall survival (OS) was 59.6%. Five-year OS was 81.9% for T1/2 and 47.5% for T3/4 (P < .0001). OS for T1/T2 cancers did not significantly differ between surgery and radiation (100% vs 81.3%, P  = .103). For advanced-stage disease (T3/T4), there was no statistical difference in OS when comparing surgery with postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (OS 50.0%) versus surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (XRT) (OS 53.3%) versus definitive CRT (OS 58.1%, P  = .767-1.000). There was not enough data to assess the role of neoadjuvant CRT.

CONCLUSION

Most patients will present with advanced-stage disease, and nodal metastasis is seen in nearly 22% of patients. This study confirms the prognostic correlation of the current T classification system. Our results suggest that OS did not differ significantly between surgery and XRT for early stage disease, and combined treatment modalities yield similar 5-year OS for advanced cancers.

Decreasing utilization for postoperative radiation therapy in locoregionally advanced medullary thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Use of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in locoregionally advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) remains controversial. The objective was to evaluate the effect of PORT on locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 346 MTC patients separated into PORT and no-PORT cohorts. Relative indications for PORT, as well as changes in patterns of treatment, were recorded.

RESULTS

49/346 (14%) received PORT. PORT was associated with worse OS; adjusted HR = 2.0 (95%CI 1.3-3.3). PORT was not associated with improved LRC, even when adjusting for advanced stage (Stage III p = 0.892; Stage IV p = 0.101). PORT and targeted therapy were not associated with improved OS compared to targeted therapy alone; adjusted HR = 1.2 (95%CI 0.3-4.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of PORT in MTC has decreased and its indications have become more selective, coinciding with the advent of effective targeted therapies. Overall, PORT was not associated with improved LRC or OS.

Utilization of Transcriptomic Profiling to Identify Molecular Markers Predicting Successful Recovery Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVES

Successful recovery from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) can be characterized by minimal presence of symptoms and absence of disease on endoscopy. However, molecular markers of surgical success remain to be characterized. These could allow for better tailoring of perioperative therapy. This study aims to identify novel molecular markers associated with surgery responsive patient.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single academic hospital center.

METHOD

One hundred eighteen consecutive patients with CRS at high risk of recurrence after surgery were followed prospectively following ESS in an academic medical center. Symptomatic and endoscopic outcomes were assessed at 4 months, with success rigorously defined subjectively as minimal or no symptoms (no symptom greater than 1 on an ordinal scale of 0-3) and objectively by the absence of nasal polyposis on sinus cavity endoscopy and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic edema score no greater than 1. Samples were obtained at the time of surgery and at 4-month postoperatively. Changes associated with surgery were determined by gene expression profiling using Affymetrix's Clariom S Human HT arrays.

RESULTS

Successful ESS was characterized by a mild upregulation in Type 1 inflammation, upregulation of cell cycle progression, and epithelial barrier and proliferation-associated genes and pathways. ESS failure was associated to very high levels of Type 1 inflammation along with downregulation of epithelial barrier function and regeneration genes and pathways.

CONCLUSION

Successful recovery from ESS involves restoration of epithelial function and regulated activation of Type 1 inflammation. Excessively elevated Type 1 inflammation is associated with epithelial barrier dysfunction.

Oncologic Significance of Therapeutic Delays in Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer

Importance

Oral cavity cancer often requires multidisciplinary management, subjecting patients to complex therapeutic trajectories. Prolonged treatment intervals in oral cavity cancer have been associated with poor oncological outcomes, but there has yet to be a study investigating treatment times in Canada.

Objective

To report treatment delays for patients with oral cavity cancer in Canada and evaluate the outcomes of treatment delays on overall survival.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter cohort study was performed at 8 Canadian academic centers from 2005 to 2019. Participants were patients with oral cavity cancer who underwent surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy. Analysis was performed in January 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Treatment intervals evaluated were surgery to initiation of postoperative radiation therapy interval (S-PORT) and radiation therapy interval (RTI). The exposure variables were prolonged intervals, respectively defined as index S-PORT greater than 42 days and RTI greater than 46 days. Patient demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, smoking status, alcohol status, and cancer staging were also considered. Univariate (log rank and Kaplan-Meier) and multivariate (Cox regression) analyses were performed to determine associations with overall survival (OS).

Results

Overall, 1368 patients were included; median (IQR) age at diagnosis was 61 (54-70) years, and 896 (65%) were men. Median (IQR) S-PORT was 56 (46-68) days, with 1093 (80%) patients waiting greater than 42 days, and median (IQR) RTI was 43 (41-47) days, with 353 (26%) patients having treatment time interval greater than 46 days. There were variations in treatment time intervals between institutions for S-PORT (institution with longest vs shortest median S-PORT, 64 days vs 48 days; η2 = 0.023) and RTI (institution with longest vs shortest median RTI, 44 days vs 40 days; η2 = 0.022). Median follow-up was 34 months. The 3-year OS was 68%. In univariate analysis, patients with prolonged S-PORT had worse survival at 3 years (66% vs 77%; odds ratio 1.75; 95% CI, 1.27-2.42), whereas prolonged RTI (67% vs 69%; odds ratio 1.06; 95% CI, 0.81-1.38) was not associated with OS. Other factors associated with OS were age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, alcohol status, T category, N category, and institution. In the multivariate model, prolonged S-PORT remained independently associated with OS (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.80).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this multicenter cohort study of patients with oral cavity cancer requiring multimodal therapy, initiation of radiation therapy within 42 days from surgery was associated with improved survival. However, in Canada, only a minority completed S-PORT within the recommended time, whereas most had an appropriate RTI. An interinstitution variation existed in terms of treatment time intervals. Institutions should aim to identify reasons for delays in their respective centers, and efforts and resources should be directed toward achieving timely completion of S-PORT.

The protective role of postoperative radiation therapy in low and intermediate grade major salivary gland malignancies: A study of the Canadian Head and Neck Collaborative Research Initiative

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to examine the utility of postoperative radiation for low and intermediate grade cancers of the parotid and submandibular glands.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective, Canadian-led, international, multi-institutional analysis of a patient cohort with low or intermediate grade salivary gland cancer of the parotid or submandibular gland who were treated from 2010 until 2020 with or without postoperative radiation therapy. A multivariable, marginal Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between locoregional recurrence (LRR) and receipt of postoperative radiation therapy while accounting for patient-level factors and the clustering of patients by institution.

RESULTS

In total, 621 patients across 14 tertiary care centers were included in the study; of these, 309 patients (49.8%) received postoperative radiation therapy. Tumor histologies included 182 (29.3%) acinic cell carcinomas, 312 (50.2%) mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 137 (20.5%) other low or intermediate grade primary salivary gland carcinomas. Kaplan-Meier LRR-free survival at 10 years was 89.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.9%-93.3%). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, postoperative radiation therapy was independently associated with a lower hazard of LRR (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29-0.97). The multivariable model estimated that the marginal probability of LRR within 10 years was 15.4% without radiation and 8.8% with radiation. The number needed to treat was 16 patients (95% CI, 14-18 patients). Radiation therapy had no benefit in patients who had early stage, low-grade salivary gland cancer without evidence of nodal disease and negative margins.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative radiation therapy may reduce LLR in some low and intermediate grade salivary gland cancers with adverse features, but it had no benefit in patients who had early stage, low-grade salivary gland cancer with negative margins.

Azithromycin Mechanisms of Action in CRS Include Epithelial Barrier Restoration and Type 1 Inflammation Reduction

OBJECTIVE

Previous in vitro transcriptomic profiling suggests azithromycin exerts its effects in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) via modulation of type 1 inflammation and restoration of epithelial barrier function. We wished to verify these postulated effects using in vitro models of epithelial repair and in vivo transcriptional profiling.

STUDY DESIGN

Functional effects of azithromycin in CRS were verified using in vitro models of wounding. The mechanism of the effect of azithromycin was assessed in vivo using transcriptomic profiling.

SETTING

Academic medical center.

METHODS

Effects of azithromycin on the speed of epithelial repair were verified in a wounding model using primary nasal epithelial cells (pNEC) from CRS patients. Nasal brushings collected pre-and posttreatment during a placebo-controlled trial of azithromycin for CRS patients unresponsive to surgery underwent transcriptomic profiling to identify implicated pathways.

RESULTS

Administration of azithromycin improved the wound healing rates in CRS pNECs and prevented the negative effect of Staphylococcus aureus on epithelial repair. In vivo, response to azithromycin was associated with downregulation in pathways of type 1 inflammation, and upregulation of pathways implicated in the restoration of the cell cycle.

CONCLUSION

Restoration of healthy epithelial function may represent a major mode of action of azithromycin in CRS. In vitro models show enhanced epithelial repair, while in vivo transcriptomics shows downregulation of pathways type 1 inflammation accompanied by upregulation of DNA repair and cell-cycle pathways. The maximal effect in patients with high levels of type 1-enhanced inflammation suggests that azithromycin may represent a novel therapeutic option for surgery-unresponsive CRS patients.

Recent advances in anaplastic thyroid cancer management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize recent developments in the diagnosis and management of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

RECENT FINDINGS

An updated edition of the Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors was released by the World Health Organization (WHO), in which squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid are now a subtype of ATC. Broader access to next generation sequencing has allowed better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving ATC and improved prognostication. BRAF-targeted therapies revolutionized the treatment of advanced/metastatic BRAFV600E -mutated ATC, offering significant clinical benefit and allowing better locoregional control of disease through the neoadjuvant approach. However, inevitable development of resistance mechanisms represents a major challenge. Addition of immunotherapy to BRAF/MEK inhibition has shown very promising results and significant improvement in survival outcomes.

SUMMARY

Major advancements took place in the characterization and management of ATC in recent years, especially in patients with a BRAF V600E mutation. Still, no curative treatment is available, and options are limited once resistance to currently available BRAF-targeted therapies develops. Additionally, there is still a need for more effective treatments for patients without a BRAF mutation.

Carotid blowout into the trachea: unusual entity with unexpected management outcome

We present a case report of a patient with a history of aggressive thyroid cancer managed by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to the neck. A year later, he presented with hemoptysis. Endobronchial ultrasound showed a pulsatile vessel; however, a CT scan and conventional angiogram were negative. Three days later, a repeat angiogram revealed a pseudoaneurysm arising from the right common carotid artery. Carotid sacrifice was performed after passing balloon test occlusion. Three years later the patient presented with coil herniation into the trachea. The carotid stump was closed with a vascular plug to prevent rebleeding from coil removal. Four months later the patient experienced an intractable cough and underwent laryngoscopy-assisted removal of the residual coil mass. This case report discusses the rare scenario of a carotid blowout into the trachea and the subsequent course of events.

Genetically engineered mouse models of head and neck cancers

The head and neck region is one of the anatomic sites commonly afflicted by cancer, with ~1.5 million new diagnoses reported worldwide in 2020 alone. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the underlying disease mechanisms, personalizing care based on each tumor's individual molecular characteristics, and even therapeutically exploiting the inherent vulnerabilities of these neoplasms. In this regard, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have played an instrumental role. While progress in the development of GEMMs has been slower than in other major cancer types, several GEMMs are now available that recapitulate most of the heterogeneous characteristics of head and neck cancers such as the tumor microenvironment. Different approaches have been employed in GEMM development and implementation, though each can generally recapitulate only certain disease aspects. As a result, appropriate model selection is essential for addressing specific research questions. In this review, we present an overview of all currently available head and neck cancer GEMMs, encompassing models for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and salivary and thyroid gland carcinomas.

Surgery After BRAF-Directed Therapy Is Associated with Improved Survival in BRAFV600E Mutant Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the oncologic outcomes of patients with BRAF^V600E-mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) who had neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy with subsequent surgery. For context, we also reviewed patients who received BRAF-directed therapy after surgery, and those who did not have surgery after BRAF-directed therapy. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary care cancer center in Texas from 2017 to 2021. Fifty-seven consecutive patients with BRAF^V600E-mutated ATC and at least 1 month of BRAF-directed therapy were included. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: All patients had stage IVB (35%) or IVC (65%) ATC. Approximately 70% of patients treated with BRAF-directed therapy ultimately had surgical resection of residual disease. Patients who had neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy followed by surgery (n = 32) had 12-month OS of 93.6% [confidence interval (CI) 84.9-100] and PFS of 84.4% [CI 71.8-96.7]. Patients who had surgery before BRAF-directed therapy (n = 12) had 12-month OS of 74.1% [CI 48.7-99.5] and PFS of 50% [CI 21.7-78.3]. Finally, patients who did not receive surgery after BRAF-directed therapy (n = 13) had 12-month OS of 38.5% [CI 12.1-64.9] and PFS of 15.4% [CI 0-35.0]. Neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy reduced tumor size, extent of surgery, and surgical morbidity score. Subgroup analysis suggested that any residual ATC in the surgical specimen was associated with significantly worse 12-month OS and PFS (OS = 83.3% [CI 62.6-100], PFS = 61.5% [CI 35.1-88]) compared with patients with pathologic ATC complete response (OS = 100%, PFS = 100%). Conclusions: We observed that neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy reduced extent of surgery and surgical morbidity. While acknowledging potential selection bias, the 12-month OS rate appeared higher in patients who had BRAF-directed therapy followed by surgery as compared with BRAF-directed therapy without surgery; yet, it was not significantly different from surgery followed by BRAF-directed therapy. PFS appeared higher in patients treated with neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy relative to patients in the other groups. These promising results of neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy followed by surgery for BRAF-mutated ATC should be confirmed in prospective clinical trials.

Clinical outcomes of combined cervical and transthoracic surgical approaches in patients with advanced thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Advanced thyroid disease involving the mediastinum may be managed surgically with a combined transcervical and transthoracic approach. Contemporary analysis of this infrequently encountered cohort will aid the multidisciplinary team in personalizing treatment approaches.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients undergoing combined transcervical and transthoracic surgery for thyroid cancer at a single high-volume institution from 1994 to 2015.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients with median age 59 years (range 28-76) underwent surgery without perioperative mortality. Most patients had primary disease. A majority had distant metastases outside the mediastinum but had locoregionally curable disease. Common complications were temporary (39%) and permanent (18%) hypoparathyroidism, and wound infection (13%). One-year overall survival was 84%; 1-year locoregional disease-free survival was 64%. Median time to locoregional recurrence was 36 months. Only esophageal invasion was associated with worse oncologic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined transcervical and transthoracic surgery for advanced thyroid cancer can be performed without mortality and with acceptable morbidity.

Prior Thyroid and Nonthyroid Cancer History Do Not Significantly Alter Overall Survival in Patients Diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Background: A history of thyroid and nonthyroid malignancies has traditionally been an exclusion criterion in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) seeking to enroll in clinical trials. In this study, we examined the impact of prior malignancies on overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with ATC. Methods: In our retrospective cohort study, we identified 451 patients with ATC treated at MD Anderson between 2000 and 2019. Clinical and pathological information was obtained through chart review. Survival analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Results: A history of clinically documented differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) was reported in 14% of patients with ATC (n = 62), most commonly papillary thyroid cancer (81%, n = 50). The median time from diagnosis of prior DTC to ATC diagnosis was 3.5 years (range: 6 months to 35 years). Concomitant DTC was found on pathology in a higher proportion of patients (52%, n = 234). A history of nonthyroid cancer was reported in 23% of patients (n = 102), where 19% (n = 87) had one, 2% (n = 10) had two, and 1% (n = 5) had three prior cancers. The median time from diagnosis of prior nonthyroid cancer to ATC diagnosis was 8 years (range: 3 months to 53 years). The most common prior nonthyroid cancers were nonmelanoma skin (28.4%), prostate (19.6%), and breast cancers (16.7%). In a subgroup analysis performed in patients with available tumor mutation information (n = 183), the frequency of detected tumor driver mutations (BRAF, RAS, TP53) was not significantly different between patients with ATC with and without a history of nonthyroid cancer. On multivariate analysis after adjusting for age and overall stage, prior DTC, concomitant DTC, and prior nonthyroid cancers, all had no significant impact on OS. Conclusions: The presence of prior malignancy does not significantly impact OS in patients with ATC. Revision of eligibility criteria for enrollment of patients with ATC into clinical trials is warranted.

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: New Horizons and Challenges

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains one of the most aggressive and deadliest malignancies. Traditionally, treatment consisted of cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with or without surgery, although a large proportion of patients were often directed toward palliative/hospice care. In the past decade, significant advances have been made through the advent of targeted therapies and immunotherapy. For patients with targetable disease and considerable treatment response, surgery and other multidisciplinary adjuvant therapies can now be considered. Overall, the era of untreatable ATC is progressively being replaced by highly personalized multidisciplinary therapies, actively shifting the treatment pendulum of this disease.

The Effect of Radiation and Chemoradiation Therapy on the Head and Neck Mucosal Microbiome: A Review

Radiation (RT) and chemoradiation therapy (CRT) play an essential role in head and neck cancer treatment. However, both cause numerous side effects in the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, and pharynx, having deleterious consequences on patients’ quality of life. Concomitant with significant advances in radiation oncology, much attention has turned to understanding the role of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of treatment-induced tissue toxicity, to ultimately explore microbiome manipulation as a therapeutic intervention. This review sought to discuss current publications investigating the impact of RT and CRT-induced changes on the head and neck microbiome, using culture-independent molecular methods, and propose opportunities for future directions. Based on 13 studies derived from a MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science search on November 7, 2021, use of molecular methods has uncovered various phyla and genera in the head and neck microbiome, particularly the oral microbiome, not previously known using culture-based methods. However, limited research has investigated the impact of RT/CRT on subsites other than the oral cavity and none of the studies aimed to examine the relationship between the head and neck microbiome and treatment effectiveness. Findings from this review provide helpful insights on our current understanding of treatment-induced oral mucositis, dental plaque, and caries formation and highlight the need for future research to examine the effect of RT/CRT on the sinonasal and oropharyngeal microbiome. In addition, future research should use larger cohorts, examine the impact of the microbiome on treatment response, and study the effect of manipulating the microbiome to overcome therapy resistance.

Novel Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer PDXs and Cell Lines: Expanding Preclinical Models of Genetic Diversity

CONTEXT

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare, aggressive, and deadly disease. Robust preclinical thyroid cancer models are needed to adequately develop and study novel therapeutic agents. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models may resemble patient tumors by recapitulating key genetic alterations and gene expression patterns, making them excellent preclinical models for drug response evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

We developed distinct ATC PDX models concurrently with cell lines and characterized them in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Fresh thyroid tumor from patients with a preoperative diagnosis of ATC was surgically collected and divided for concurrent cell line and PDX model development. Cell lines were created by generating single cells through enzymatic digestion. PDX models were developed following direct subcutaneous implantation of fresh tumor on the flank of immune compromised/athymic mice.

RESULTS

Six ATC PDX models and 4 cell lines were developed with distinct genetic profiles. Mutational characterization showed one BRAF/TP53/CDKN2A, one BRAF/CDKN2A, one BRAF/TP53, one TP53 only, one TERT-promoter/HRAS, and one TERT-promoter/KRAS/TP53/NF2/NFE2L2 mutated phenotype. Hematoxylin-eosin staining comparing the PDX models to the original patient surgical specimens show remarkable resemblance, while immunohistochemistry stains for important biomarkers were in full concordance (cytokeratin, TTF-1, PAX8, BRAF). Short tandem repeats DNA fingerprinting analysis of all PDX models and cell lines showed strong concordance with the original tumor. PDX successful establishment rate was 32%.

CONCLUSION

We have developed and characterized 6 novel ATC PDX models with 4 matching cell lines. Each PDX model harbors a distinct genetic profile, making them excellent tools for preclinical therapeutic trials.

A High-throughput Approach to Identify Effective Systemic Agents for the Treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Despite the use of aggressive multimodality treatment, most anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) patients die within a year of diagnosis. Although the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors has recently been approved for use in BRAF-mutated ATC, they remain effective in a minority of patients who are likely to develop drug resistance. There remains a critical clinical need for effective systemic agents for ATC with a reasonable toxicity profile to allow for rapid translational development.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twelve human thyroid cancer cell lines with comprehensive genomic characterization were used in a high-throughput screening (HTS) of 257 compounds to select agents with maximal growth inhibition. Cell proliferation, colony formation, orthotopic thyroid models, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were used to validate the selected agents.

RESULTS

Seventeen compounds were effective, and docetaxel, LBH-589, and pralatrexate were selected for additional in vitro and in vivo analysis as they have been previously approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for other cancers. Significant tumor growth inhibition (TGI) was detected in all tested models treated with LBH-589; pralatrexate demonstrated significant TGI in the orthotopic papillary thyroid carcinoma model and 2 PDX models; and docetaxel demonstrated significant TGI only in the context of mutant TP53.

CONCLUSIONS

HTS identified classes of systemic agents that demonstrate preferential effectiveness against aggressive thyroid cancers, particularly those with mutant TP53. Preclinical validation in both orthotopic and PDX models, which are accurate in vivo models mimicking tumor microenvironment, may support initiation of early-phase clinical trials in non-BRAF mutated or refractory to BRAF/MEK inhibition ATC.

Development of a rational strategy for integration of lactate dehydrogenase A suppression into therapeutic algorithms for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a critical metabolic enzyme. LDH A (LDHA) overexpression is a hallmark of aggressive malignancies and has been linked to tumour initiation, reprogramming and progression in multiple tumour types. However, successful LDHA inhibition strategies have not materialised in the translational and clinical space. We sought to develop a rational strategy for LDHA suppression in the context of solid tumour treatment.

METHODS

We utilised a doxycycline-inducible short hairpin RNA (shRNA) system to generate LDHA suppression. Lactate and LDH activity levels were measured biochemically and kinetically using hyperpolarised 13C-pyruvate nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We evaluated effects of LDHA suppression on cellular proliferation and clonogenic survival, as well as on tumour growth, in orthotopic models of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), alone or in combination with radiation.

RESULTS

shRNA suppression of LDHA generated a time-dependent decrease in LDH activity with transient shifts in intracellular lactate levels, a decrease in carbon flux from pyruvate into lactate and compensatory shifts in metabolic flux in glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. LDHA suppression decreased cellular proliferation and temporarily stunted tumour growth in ATC and HNSCC xenografts but did not by itself result in tumour cure, owing to the maintenance of residual viable cells. Only when chronic LDHA suppression was combined with radiation was a functional cure achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful targeting of LDHA requires exquisite dose and temporal control without significant concomitant off-target toxicity. Combinatorial strategies with conventional radiation are feasible as long as the suppression is targeted, prolonged and non-toxic.

Evaluation of Overall Survival in Patients With Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, 2000-2019

Importance

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) historically has a 4-month median overall survival (OS) from time of diagnosis, with disease-specific mortality approaching 100%. The association between recent major advancements in treatment and OS has yet to be evaluated.

Objective

To evaluate rates of OS in patients with ATC over the last 2 decades.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Retrospective cohort study in a single tertiary care institution. Patients with histopathological confirmation of ATC from January 2000 to October 2019 were included and divided into 3 groups according to date of presentation: 2000-2013, 2014-2016, and 2017-2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Overall survival compared among different treatment eras and differing therapies, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery.

Results

Of 479 patients (246 men [51%]; median age, 65.0 [range, 21.1-92.6] years) with ATC evaluated, 52 (11%) were stage IVA, 172 (36%) stage IVB, and 255 (53%) stage IVC at presentation. The median OS of the entire cohort was 0.79 years (9.5 months), ranging from 0.01 to 16.63. The OS at 1 and 2 years was 35% (95% CI, 29%-42%) and 18% (95% CI, 13%-23%) in the 2000-2013 group (n = 227), 47% (95% CI, 36%-56%) and 25% (95% CI, 17%-34%) in the 2014-2016 group (n = 100), and 59% (95% CI, 49%-67%) and 42% (95% CI, 30%-53%) in the 2017-2019 group (n = 152), respectively (P < .001). The hazard ratio was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.38-0.67) for the 2017-2019 group compared with the 2000-2013 patients (P < .001). Factors associated with improved OS included targeted therapy (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.39-0.63; P < .001), the addition of immunotherapy to targeted therapy (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.36-0.94; P = .03), and surgery following neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy (hazard ratio, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.78; P = .02). Patients undergoing surgery following neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy (n = 20) had a 94% 1-year survival with a median follow-up of 1.21 years.

Conclusion and Relevance

In this large single-institution cohort study spanning nearly 20 years, changes in patient management appear to be associated with significant increase in survival. The era of untreatable ATC is progressively being replaced by molecular-based personalized therapies, with integration of multidisciplinary therapies including surgery and radiation therapy.

Reconstruction of intraoral oncologic surgical defects with Integra® bilayer wound matrix

Utilization of biologic skin substitutes for the management of soft tissue defects as an alternative to autologous skin grafts has expanded over the past 2 decades. The purpose of this case series study was to report our experience with Integra® bilayer wound matrix for reconstruction of intraoral oncologic defects. Case records of 6 patients with intraoral oncologic defects reconstructed with Integra® bilayer wound matrix were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical defect location, size, and time to removal of surgical splint varied. Clinically, normal oral epithelialization was noted for all patients. One patient demonstrated a small area of dehiscence and bone exposure after adjuvant radiation therapy which resolved with minimal intervention. Integra bilayer wound matrix is a viable and versatile option for reconstruction of intraoral oncologic surgical defects. Further exploration of wound healing with Integra® matrix, surgical techniques, and cost-effectiveness is advocated.

Azithromycin in high-risk, refractory chronic rhinosinusitus after endoscopic sinus surgery and corticosteroid irrigations: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains a significant burden for patients, often leaving them with few therapeutic options that provide low-morbidity, long-term, and meaningful symptomatologic and endoscopic disease improvement. Macrolides have long been thought to offer both an immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effect. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose, long-term azithromycin in a carefully selected high-risk population failing appropriate medical therapy of budesonide nasal irrigations (BNIs) and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

METHODS

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was completed in a single tertiary-care center assessing the addition of 250 mg azithromycin, 3 times per week for 16 weeks, in adults failing ESS and high-volume BNIs. Associated comorbidities, as well as symptomatologic, microbiologic, and serologic values, were systematically collected.

RESULTS

A total of 128 patients were enrolled and underwent ESS followed by BNI. At the 4-month post-ESS visit, 48 patients showed disease persistence and were randomized to azithromycin or placebo. Overall, azithromycin, when compared with placebo, did not show a statistically significant difference in disease clearance (54% vs 33%, respectively; p = 0.146), although patients with disease clearance who were on azithromycin showed significantly better 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test score improvements than patients on placebo (18 vs -0.9, respectively; p = 0.046). In a subgroup analysis excluding aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) patients, azithromycin significantly improved disease clearance when compared with placebo (71% vs 35%, respectively; p = 0.031), with a number needed to treat of 3 (2.8).

CONCLUSION

Low-dose azithromycin is a therapeutic option with few side effects. Its use can show favorable clinical outcomes in this difficult-to-treat population, especially if patients are AERD-negative.

Abstract 1662: In vivo drug response evaluation in anaplastic thyroid cancer patient-derived tumor xenografts following high-throughput screening

Background Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare, aggressive, and deadly disease. Robust pre-clinical models are needed to adequately develop and study novel therapeutic agents. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are thought to closely resemble patient tumors by preserving the tumor microenvironment, making them excellent pre-clinical models for drug response evaluation. We used two distinct ATC PDX models and evaluated drug response following a high-throughput screening (HTS).

Methods A HTS, using NCI's Approved Oncology Set V (n=112) and a custom collection of agents (n=145), was conducted on patient-derived thyroid cancer cell lines. To identify the most effective drugs, we selected individual agents with maximal growth inhibition at each dose level relative to wells examined on the day of treatment (top 25th percentile) and subsequently used non-parametric statistics to compare effect size with other drugs and controls. This allowed us to identify classes of systemic agents which demonstrated preferential effectiveness against ATC cell lines and certain mutations. Following our prior successful work on orthotopic xenograft models, we used two established ATC PDX models, HOSC68 and HOSC199, harboring distinct genetic profiles and expanded each of them into 50 athymic mice. HOSC68 has a BRAFV600E and a TP53 mutation, while HOSC199 is wild-type for both genes, but has an HRAS mutation. Equal pieces of 4 × 4mm of tumor were transplanted subcutaneously at the level of the right flank. Following tumor growth, the mice were separated into four treatment arms. All mice received their treatment intraperitoneally following standard drug administration schedules. Tumor volume was measured on the first day of treatment and every two to three days thereafter until trial completion (14 days). Drug response was analyzed by evaluating percent tumor growth inhibition (TGI). Mouse weight was recorded over time to evaluate treatment toxicity. Following treatment completion, tumors were surgically retrieved and evaluated morphologically and histologically.

Results Microtubule inhibitors, antimetabolites, and HDAC inhibitors were some of the most effective drug classes identified against ATC cell lines. Specifically, in this study, mice were treated with control (CTR), Docetaxel (DOC)-microtubule inhibitor, Pralatrexate (PRA)-antimetabolite, and LBH-589 (LBH)-HDAC inhibitor. Forty-four HOSC68 and 43 HOSC199 mice successfully grew tumor and were included in the trial. Compared to CTR, HOSC68 mice treated with DOC showed a 37% TGI (p=0.04), 88% with PRA (p&lt0.001), and 83% with LBH (p&lt0.001), while HOSC199 mice had a 2% TGI with DOC (p=0.56), 76% with PRA (p=0.005), and 83% with LBH (p=0.002). PRA and LBH were significantly more toxic than DOC and CTR (p&lt0.001) in HOSC68 mice, while all three drugs were significantly more toxic than CTR in the HOSC199 mice (p&lt0.001).

Conclusion We report the first large-scale evaluation of drugs identified through a HTS analysis on ATC PDX models. This trial demonstrates the feasibility of using this platform for in vivo drug testing, while providing an avenue for future drug testing and resistance evaluation, as well as personalized therapeutics development.

Citation Format: Anastasios Maniakas, Abdallah S. Mohamed, Ying C. Henderson, Hu Hei, Shaohua Peng, Diana Bell, Michelle D. Williams, Steve Scherer, David A. Wheeler, Gary L. Clayman, Mark Zafereo, Jennifer R. Wang, Maria E. Cabanillas, Clifford Stephan, Faye M. Johnson, Stephen Y. Lai. In vivo drug response evaluation in anaplastic thyroid cancer patient-derived tumor xenografts following high-throughput screening [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1662.

Low-dose and long-term azithromycin significantly decreases Staphylococcus aureus in the microbiome of refractory CRS patients

BACKGROUND

The sinonasal microbiome is believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We evaluated changes in the microbiome following a 4-month course of low-dose azithromycin. Assessing microbiome alterations following such a treatment may help identify underlying mechanisms of this drug.

METHODS

A total of 48 adults with refractory CRS were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to 250 mg of azithromycin or placebo 3 times weekly for 4 months. During this time, daily budesonide saline irrigations were continued. Sinonasal swabs were collected by endoscopically-assisted method prior to treatment initiation and at the end of it, and sent for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. High-resolution ANCHOR pipeline was used to infer and annotate putative species. The 2 patient groups were compared using DESeq2 differential abundance analysis.

RESULTS

From initiation to the end of azithromycin treatment, patients showed a significant difference in beta diversity analysis (p = 0.0004) along with a significant decrease in 71 different operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Staphylococcus aureus (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05) obtained from the differential abundance analysis. This was not observed in placebo-treated patients. By the end of treatments, azithromycin-treated patients had a significant decrease in 29 different OTUs of S. aureus (FDR < 0.05) when compared to placebo.

CONCLUSION

A 4-month course of 250 mg of azithromycin 3 times weekly in patients with refractory CRS significantly decreases S. aureus abundance in the sinonasal microbiome. Considering the pathogenic role of S. aureus in the refractory CRS population, azithromycin may constitute an additional therapeutic option to help control this disease.

Risk for Thyroid Cancer Recurrence Is Higher in Men Than in Women Independent of Disease Stage at Presentation

Background: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) presents at a more advanced stage in men than in women, and the mortality in men is higher than that in women. However, it is not clear whether DTC recurrence is affected by sex independent of stage at presentation. The objective of the present study was to assess if male sex is an independent risk factor for recurrence of DTC. Methods: The Canadian Collaborative Network for Cancer of the Thyroid (CANNECT) is a collaborative registry to describe patterns of care for thyroid cancer. We included patients from the CANNECT registry with DTC diagnosed at age 18 or older between 2000 and 2010. We compared men and women with respect to presentation, management, and recurrence risk, stratified for American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Results: We included 2595 patients, 2067 (79.7%) women and 528 (20.3%) men. Men presented with more advanced AJCC stage (p < 0.001), T stage (p < 0.001), N stage (p < 0.001), and M stage (p = 0.002) There was no difference in follow-up duration between women (7.7 ± 4.0 [mean ± standard deviation] years) and men (7.7 ± 4.0 years, p = 0.985). Overall recurrence was 2.2% (n = 46) for women and 8.5% (n = 45) for men (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis adjusted for AJCC stage, men were at significantly greater risk for DTC recurrence than women (adjusted hazard ratio 2.72 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78-4.20]; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis adjusted for tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, men were at significantly greater risk for DTC recurrence than women (adjusted hazard ratio 2.31 [CI 1.48-3.60]; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study confirms that the risk for recurrence of DTC is higher in men than in women. Although men tend to present with more advanced-stage disease, the difference in recurrence risk persists when adjusted for stage of presentation. It needs to be determined whether sex should influence follow-up intensity and/or duration.

Head and neck surgical oncology in the time of a pandemic: Subsite-specific triage guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 pandemic has strained human and material resources around the world. Practices in surgical oncology had to change in response to these resource limitations, triaging based on acuity, expected oncologic outcomes, availability of supportive resources, and safety of health care personnel.

METHODS

The MD Anderson Head and Neck Surgery Treatment Guidelines Consortium devised the following to provide guidance on triaging head and neck cancer (HNC) surgeries based on multidisciplinary consensus. HNC subsites considered included aerodigestive tract mucosa, sinonasal, salivary, endocrine, cutaneous, and ocular.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Each subsite is presented separately with disease-specific recommendations. Options for alternative treatment modalities are provided if surgical treatment needs to be deferred.

CONCLUSION

These guidelines are intended to help clinicians caring for patients with HNC appropriately allocate resources during a health care crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to advocate for individual consideration of cases in a multidisciplinary fashion based on individual patient circumstances and resource availability.

Subannular ventilation tubes in the pediatric population: Clinical outcomes of over 1000 insertions

OBJECTIVES

Long-term transtympanic tube insertions for chronic middle ear disease are associated with high rates of complications. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes achieved with an alternate technique, the subannular tube insertion, by determining mean tube lifespan, cumulative incidence of post-operative events and complications, audiometric changes and risk factors associated with earlier tube extrusion in the pediatric population.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of all patients operated for subannular tube insertion between January 2007 and 2013 was conducted in a single pediatric tertiary care center. Exploratory Cox regression analysis was performed to identify potential risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 1014 tubes from 459 patients were included in the study. Mean subannular tube lifespan was 41.3 months with median time of 35.0 months. Cumulative incidence of post-operative events in decreasing frequency were otorrhea (21.7%), tube blockage (16.0%), tympanic membrane retraction (12.5%), otitis media with effusion (10.0%), acute otitis media (6.4%), perforation (4.6%) and cholesteatoma formation (1.1%). For patients with available pre- and post-operative audiograms, mean air-bone gap improved from 19.5 dB to 7.0 dB after subannular tube insertion (p < 0.01). Increasing age and previous subannular tube insertion carried hazard ratios of 1.029 (p < 0.01) and 1.749 (p < 0.01) for tube extrusion respectively, while craniofacial anomalies and concomitant tympanoplasty at the time of tube insertion had hazard ratios of 0.795 (p < 0.01) and 0.680 (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Subannular tube insertion appears to be a safe and effective alternate technique for middle ear ventilation in cases of intractable disease.

Rapid head and neck tissue identification in thyroid and parathyroid surgery using optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging modality that may reproduce the microarchitecture of tissues in real-time. This study examines whether OCT can render distinct images of thyroid, parathyroid glands, adipose tissue, and lymph nodes in both healthy and pathological states.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients undergoing thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and/or neck dissection for thyroid cancer were recruited prospectively for imaging prior to histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

Based on 122 imaged specimens, qualitative OCT descriptions were derived for healthy thyroid, parathyroid gland, adipose tissue, and lymph node. The frequencies at which distinguishing features were present for each tissue type were 88%, 83%, 100%, and 82%. OCT appearance of pathological specimens were also described.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthy neck tissues have distinct OCT appearances, which could facilitate parathyroid identification during thyroidectomies. However, images of parathyroid adenomas could be confused with those of lymph nodes, and benign and malignant thyroid nodules could not be differentiated.

Office-Based Stapes Surgery

Objective

The objective of this study was to provide a proof of concept and to assess the success and safety of stapes surgery for otosclerosis under local anesthesia in an office-based setting (OBS) as compared with a hospital operating room setting (ORS).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

We reviewed all patients who underwent stapes surgery by the same surgeon from October 2014 to January 2017 at our tertiary care center (ORS, n = 36, 52%) and in an OBS (n = 33, 48%).

Subjects and Methods

The surgical technique was identical in both groups. All patients had a temporal bone computed tomography scan and audiogram within the 6 months prior to surgery. Air-bone gaps (ABGs), bone conduction, and air conduction pure tone average values were calculated. Preoperative results for pure tone average, bone conduction, ABG, and word recognition scores were compared with early (4 months) and late (12 months) follow-up audiograms. Intra- and postoperative complications were compared.

Results

Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics and severity of disease. The mean 1-year postoperative ABG was 5.66 dB (95% CI = 4.42-6.90) in the ORS group and 6.30 dB (95% CI = 4.50-8.10) in the OBS group ( P = .55). ABG improved by 24.27 dB (95% CI = 21.40-27.13) in the ORS group and 23.15 dB (95% CI = 18.45-27.85) in the OBS group ( P = .68). Complication rates did not differ, although this study remains underpowered.

Conclusions

In this small group of patients, the success of stapes surgery performed in an OBS and its complications were comparable to those of an ORS, thus providing an alternative to patients on long operating room waiting lists.

An Evaluation of SPARC Protein as a Serum Biomarker of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVE

Precision medicine initiatives for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) management suggest tailoring treatment to the patient's individual disease profile; however, serum biomarkers for evaluation of disease activity or predicting response to therapy are lacking in CRS. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been described as a component of barrier dysfunction in CRS. SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) is a marker of EMT that has previously been identified in sinus epithelium by gene expression profiling. We wished to determine if SPARC could represent a serum biomarker for CRS by verifying (1) if SPARC could be detected in serum, (2) whether levels were sensitive to disease burden reduction following surgery, and (3) if it could predict response to therapy.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective.

SETTING

Tertiary care center.

SUBJECTS

Patients with CRS undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

METHODS

Twenty-six patients undergoing ESS for CRS were prospectively recruited. Serum was collected at the time of surgery and 4 months following ESS and SPARC level measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Postoperative outcome was characterized as "remission" or "unfavorable" based on symptomatology and endoscopy.

RESULTS

SPARC could be detected and measured in serum in all subjects. Following ESS, SPARC levels decreased by 33% ( P = .005) but did not predict evolution at 4 months postsurgery ( P = .94).

CONCLUSION

SPARC may be an interesting serum biomarker of disease activity in CRS, as it can be reliably measured and decreases following successful reduction of disease burden after surgery. However, it does not predict post-ESS evolution, suggesting that the link between EMT and outcome is not linear.

Staphylococcus aureus on Sinus Culture Is Associated With Recurrence of Chronic Rhinosinusitis After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Objectives: Identify whether identification of S. aureus on conventional culture is a predictor of success or failure after ESS followed by budesonide nasal irrigations (BUD) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients at high risk of recurrence.

Methodology: Prospective clinical trial including 116 patients from a tertiary care center at high-risk of disease recurrence following ESS+BUD. Blood samples, microbial swabs, and SNSS/SNOT-22 were taken on the day of surgery (Visit-1) and 4 months postoperatively (Visit-2). Outcomes were evaluated using symptoms and mucosal status as assessed by the Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score.

Results: Seventy-five patients (69.4%) attained SNOT-22 MCID or higher. (Mean = 33.4, range 9–75). Objective documentation of recurrence of disease, as defined by combined endoscopic/symptomatic criteria, was noted in 58/116 patients (50%). Revision surgery was associated with a significantly higher rate of disease recurrence (60.0 vs. 28.0%; p < 0.001). Culture for Staphylococcus aureus was associated with disease recurrence, preoperatively and at 4 months post-surgery (p = 0.020; p < 0.001). This was restricted to post-operative cultures in the revision group (10.0 vs. 48.8%; p < 0.001). Other factors associated with poor outcome included intolerance to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (p = 0.036). Significantly higher Lund-Kennedy scores in the recurrence groups despite similar symptom intensity, emphasizing the importance of considering objective outcome in addition to patient-reported ones.

Conclusion: Patients undergoing revision ESS are at high risk of disease recurrence, even when budesonide irrigations are used post operatively. Presence of S. aureus on culture pre-operatively or at 4 months post-ESS is associated with a negative outcome. This suggests that S. aureus negatively influences outcome, possibly via a number of mechanisms, including interactions with the (i) immune system, (ii) regeneration and repair of the sinus epithelium, or (iii) via interference with the sinus microbiome. This suggests that S. aureus may be a simple and inexpensive biomarker for disease severity and indicates a clear need to better appreciate S. aureus on how it contributes mechanistically to disease development and persistence in order to develop targeted therapeutic strategies.

Thyroid Disease Around the World

Thyroid disease is one of the most common pathologies in the world, with two of the most clinically important subgroups being iodine deficiency and thyroid goiter, and thyroid cancer. This review looks at the current state of thyroid disease in the world and evaluates the future direction in terms of thyroid disease treatment and prevention. Several of the most impactful epidemiologic studies are presented and analyzed, as well as a brief overview of the current socioeconomic burden of disease.

Eustachian Tube Obliteration and its Effect on Rhinoliquorrhea in Translabyrinthine Vestibular Schwannoma Excision

OBJECTIVE

Rhinoliquorrhea is defined as a cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the nose. Our objective in this study is to determine the reduction of rhinoliquorrhea rates by Eustachian tube (ET) obliteration in the context of a translabyrinthine approach performed following vestibular schwannoma (VS) excision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective study achieved in a tertiary-care center where the chart review revealed 94 VS operated by the translabyrinthine approach between 2009 and 2015. There were 40 males and 54 females aged from 28-76 years. The only exclusion criterion was a previous history of cranial surgery. ET obliteration was systematically executed when the petrous apex pneumatization level was at least 2 of 4. Our main outcome measure was the development of rhinoliquorrhea.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight patients underwent ET obliteration and were followed for an average of 2.6±1.2 years. Rhinoliquorrhea was reported in 1.14% of the patients having had an ET obliteration. When compared to our previous sample of patients operated with a translabyrinthine approach, it represents a reduction of 84%.

CONCLUSION

Obliteration of the ET is a fast and simple procedure that reduces the rate of rhinoliquorrhea. We therefore recommend its use, specifically in cases of petrous apex pneumatization levels 2-4.

Perioperative practices in thyroid surgery: An international survey

BACKGROUND

Perioperative practices in thyroid surgery vary from one specialty, institution, or country to the next. We evaluated the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative practices of thyroid surgeons focusing on preoperative ultrasound, vocal cord evaluation, wound drains, and hospitalization duration, among others.

METHODS

A survey was sent to 7 different otolaryngology and endocrine/general surgery associations.

RESULTS

There were 965 respondents from 52 countries. Surgeon-performed ultrasound is practiced by more than one third of respondents. Otolaryngologists perform preoperative and postoperative vocal cord evaluation more often than endocrine/general surgeons (p < .001). Sixty percent of respondents either never place drains or place drains <50% of the time in thyroid lobectomies (43% for total thyroidectomies). Outpatient thyroid surgery is most frequently performed by surgeons in the United States (63%).

CONCLUSION

This epidemiologic study is the first global thyroid survey of its kind and clearly demonstrates the variability and evolving trends in thyroid surgery. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1296-1305, 2017.

Common features in patients with superior canal dehiscence declining surgical treatment

Background

Superior canal dehiscence (SCD) is a benign condition in which a surgical treatment may be considered depending on the patients’ tolerance of their symptoms. In this study, we aim to identify driving factors behind the patients’ choice of a surgical management over watchful waiting.

Methods

Sixty-two patients with cochlear and/or vestibular symptoms and a temporal bone high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan showing SCD were included in the study. All patients have been offered either surgical management or watchful waiting.

Results

Of these, 28 elected surgery and 34 declined it. The operated group showed more cochlear (6.6 vs. 2.4) symptoms than the non-operated group (P < 0.001) except for hypoacousis, but no significant difference (P = 0.059) was found for the number of vestibular symptoms between both groups (3.4 vs. 1.1). Footstep and eating hyperacousis were both present in 57.1% of operated vs. 3% of non-operated patients (P < 0.001). Oscillopsia with effort and with walking was found in 50% and 35.7% of operated patients, respectively, but none in the non-operated group (P < 0.001). Hearing tuning fork at malleolus and Valsalva and pneumatic speculum induced vertigo showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P = 0.010 respectively). Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) thresholds, air and bone conduction thresholds, and mean air-bone gap (ABG) were similar in the two populations (P > 0.05). The average dehiscence size was 4.7 mm (2.0 - 8.0 mm) and 3.8 mm (1.3 - 7.7 mm) in the operated and non-operated patients, respectively (P = 0.421).

Conclusions

The natures of cochleovestibular signs and symptoms were shown to be key factors in patients’ choice of a surgical management whereas paraclinical tests seem to be less significant in the patients’ decision for a surgical treatment.

Meta-analysis on the clinical outcomes in patients with intralabyrinthine schwannomas: conservative management vs. microsurgery

The objective of this review is to compare the symptomatological evolution following conservative management (CM) or microsurgery (MS) in patients with intralabyrinthine schwannomas (ILS). A thorough systematic review of the English and French literature from 1948 to February 2014 was performed using Ovid Medline. An ancestor search was also completed. The major inclusion criterion consisted of a diagnosis of ILS with magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with a classic vestibular schwannoma, cases of incidentaloma during surgery or an autopsy were the main exclusion criteria. Thirty-one studies met our selective criteria. Descriptive data were collected from the articles. Clinical outcomes regarding the hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, dizziness and aural fullness were stated as improved, unchanged or worse at the last follow-up. All data were then separated into two different groups according to the management option: CM and MS. The data were analyzed using a Pearson χ (2) test and Fisher's exact test. This meta-analysis suggests that MS has a statistically significant favorable outcome regarding symptom relief compared to CM in patients with ILS suffering from tinnitus, vertigo and dizziness. Hearing level was not compared between treatment groups, as MS leads to anacusis. An indicative bias was the main limitation of this study, as patients suffering from intractable vertigo with moderate-to-severe hearing loss were referred to MS. Therefore, in the presence of a serviceable hearing, we suggest that CM should be the treatment of choice.

Tumor classification in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and sentinel lymph node biopsy outcomes: a direct correlation

BACKGROUND

Predicting locoregional metastasis in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) is a challenge for thyroid cancer surgeons. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been shown to be an effective predictive tool. To our knowledge, primary tumor (T) classification has yet to be studied with regard to SLNB. We hypothesized that larger primary tumors would correlate with the rate of malignancy in SLNBs.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients operated for WDTC at the McGill Thyroid Cancer Center over a 36-month period. Patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy and SLNB for WDTC were included in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 311 patients were included and separated into two groups (236 negative and 75 positive SLNBs). Among patients with negative SLNBs, 65% had T1 primary tumors, 17% T2, 16% T3, and 2% T4, whereas 18% of patients with positive SLNBs had T1 primary tumors, 5% T2, 45% T3, and 32% T4 (p<0.001). Patients under the age of 45 years had a higher rate of positive SLNs (36% in those <45 years vs. 17% in those ≥ 45 years; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Age (<45 years) and higher T category were found to be associated with a higher rate of positive SLNBs.

Azithromycin add-on therapy in high-risk postendoscopic sinus surgery patients failing corticosteroid irrigations: A clinical practice audit

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a high potential for recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), despite a postoperative therapy of topical corticosteroid irrigations. Azithromycin (AZI) is a macrolide antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties that may be of benefit in such steroid-unresponsive patients. Follow-up study was performed to (1) review the effectiveness of the management strategy of adding AZI in high-risk post-ESS patients failing standard management and (2) identify predictive factors for steroid nonresponsiveness.

METHODS

A retrospective audit of the postoperative evolution of all patients undergoing ESS for CRS in 2010 by a single surgeon was undertaken. Patients deemed at high risk of recurrence based on preoperative history and/or perioperative findings received nasal irrigation with 0.5 mg of budesonide (BUD) in 240 mL of saline twice daily after ESS. Patients showing signs of endoscopic recurrence at 4 months, despite BUD, had AZI at 250 mg three times a week added to their treatment regimen.

RESULTS

A total of 57 high-risk patients underwent ESS during this period. At 4 months, 63.2% (36/57) had a favorable outcome solely with BUD. Twelve of the 21 nonresponders received AZI, with an additional 66.7% (8/12) subsequently showing a favorable response. Failure of BUD was associated with female gender (p = 0.048), having elevated alpha-1-antitrypsin levels (p = 0.037) and lower recovery rates of Staphylococcus aureus (p = 0.063). Although the AZI subgroup was too small for statistical analysis, female gender was more frequently associated with failure of both BUD and AZI, while IgE was not useful.

CONCLUSION

A significant subgroup of high-risk patients showing disease recurrence after ESS despite topical corticosteroid therapy may respond to the addition of AZI as part of their therapy. These findings suggest that topical steroid-unresponsive CRS may represent a distinct entity and that alternate anti-inflammatory agents may be required for optimal management.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Status Correlates with Postoperative Stimulated Thyroglobulin Levels in Low-risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVE

Radioactive iodine (RAI) remnant ablation in low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is controversial. Current patient selection guidelines recommend the use of postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin (stim-Tg), neck dissections, and sonography but fail to include sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between SLNB status and postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin as a surrogate marker of clinical outcome.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of low-risk PTC patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy with SLNB at the McGill Thyroid Cancer Center. SLNBs were obtained using methylene blue dye. Biochemical measurements were acquired between 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression models and receiver operating characterisitc (ROC) curves. A P-value <.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients were included in this study. The positive SLNB rate was 14.6%. The mean postoperative Tg level was 1.41 μg/L. There were no significant correlations between the SLNB and the covariates analyzed (age, gender, histology, tumor size, and thyrotropin levels). Patients with negative SLNB were significantly more likely to have a lower stim-Tg (P<.0001). When postoperative Tg was analyzed as a categorical variable, a threshold of <1 μg/L was significantly associated with a negative SLNB, with a sensitivity and specificity (determined by ROC curves) of 0.86 and 0.88, respectively.

CONCLUSION

There exists a correlation between SLNB and postoperative Tg. This creates the possibility of a new approach to RAI administration among low-risk PTC patients incorporating SLNB to the current guidelines.

North American Survey on HPV and p16 Testing in Head and Neck Cancer

Objectives:

1) Evaluate systematic testing of human papillomavirus (HPV) and p16 status on head and neck cancer in North America. 2) Assess if HPV or p16 status is used to influence treatment in this population.

Methods:

An online survey was sent to three professional associations: the American Head & Neck Society, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology, and the Quebec Association of Otolaryngology. Inclusion criteria were physicians practicing in North America. Incomplete surveys were disregarded. Chi-square analyses were conducted.

Results:

There was a response rate of 20% with a total of 216 complete responses. Most respondents were otolaryngologists (196; 90.7%), English-speaking (178; 82.4%), and practicing in an academic setting (138; 63.9%). Routine HPV or p16 testing was performed by 146 respondents for the oropharynx, 69 for oral cavity, and 44 for other subsites. Most physicians (113; 77.4%) test for both HPV and p16, while 58.3% indicated that HPV/p16 status influences their treatment approach for oropharyngeal cancer. In Quebec, 15.4% of respondents test for HPV/p16, versus 61.0% in the rest of Canada and 88.1% of the American Head & Neck Society members ( P < 0.001). Practicing in an academic center of having a primarily (≥50%) oncology practice was associated with a higher rate of HPV/p16 testing (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The majority of North American otolaryngologists test for HPV or p16 status in head and neck cancer. Furthermore, the majority indicate that this testing influences their treatment approach for oropharyngeal cancer. Concurrently, multiple treatment deintensification protocols for this type of cancer are currently underway.

Pre-op Thyroglobulin and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Outcomes

Objective: 1) To retrospectively assess the usefulness of preoperative thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in predicting sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) status. 2) To evaluate the correlation between preoperative Tg levels and the overall number of positive SLNs. 3) To compare primary tumor (T) classification in patients according to SLNB outcome.

Method: Data from patients operated for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Center were collected from January 2007 to January 2012. Statistical analyses were performed using a Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, a Pearson correlation coefficient and a Pearson χ2 test.

Results: Preoperative Tg levels and SLNB results were available in 74 patients (51 negative and 23 positive SLNBs). Mean preoperative Tg levels for negative and positive SLNB groups were 105.2 and 85.9 ng/mL, respectively, yielding no statistically significant difference ( P = .143). Moreover, no statistically significant correlation was found between Tg levels and the number of positive SLNs ( P = .515). While 82.4% of patients with negative SLNBs had a T1 or T2 class WDTC, 82.6% of patients with positive SLNBs had a T3 or higher class, yielding a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( P < .001).

Conclusion: Preoperative Tg levels are not significantly different in patients with positive SLNBs as compared to negative SLNBs, and show no significant correlation with the number of positive SLNs. Thus, an elevated preoperative Tg is not a predictor of SLN status. Patients with positive SLNBs, however, have significantly worse T classifications.