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Wprowadzenie technik edycji genomu jako podstawowego narzędzia w badaniach naukowych wywołało znaczny postęp w naukach biologicznych, medycznych oraz pozwoliło zrozumieć patofizjologię wielu chorób. Jedną z najnowocześniejszych metod wprowadzania specyficznych zmian w genomie jest obecnie technologia CRISPR/Cas9, która poprzez insercję, delecję lub zamianę nukleotydów w sekwencji DNA prowadzi do inaktywacji genów docelowych, nabycia nowych cech genetycznych lub korekty niepożądanych mutacji. Ponadto, technologia CRISPR/Cas9 pozwala na tworzenie modeli in vitro i in vivo wielu chorób, a następnie dokładne badanie mechanizmów ich powstawania. Obecnie prowadzonych jest wiele badań w dziedzinie onkologii wykorzystujących technikę CRISPR/Cas9, a niniejsza praca jest ich zwięzłym podsumowaniem.

Background Efficient genetic material (DNA and RNA) and protein isolation are crucial for obtaining scientifically significant results in biotechnological analytical procedures. DNA mutations, gene expression determination on transcript and protein levels and high-throughput screening are core analyses in cancer studies. The most common tissue homogenisation methods include mortar and pestle usage. This study compares the classic pulverisation method with the nonconventional use of a ball mill. Methods The biological material constituted cancerous and unchanged adjacent tissues collected from five patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Tissues were halved for trituration using both homogenisation methods. The obtained material was used for DNA, RNA, and protein isolation and further PCR, RT-qPCR, and Western-blot analysis. Results After tissue homogenisation in a ball mill, we found significantly higher DNA concentration than mortar and pestle usage but no significant differences in RNA concentration and DNA and RNA purity ratios. However, the DNA quality assessed by gel electrophoresis and PCR was more excellent in samples ground with mortar and pestle. On the contrary, we demonstrated better RNA quality in ball-milled samples and gene expression analysis using RT-qPCR. We found no significant differences between protein concentration and quality extracted from tissues homogenised with the two compared methods. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that both methods of tissue homogenisation: ball mill versus mortar and pestle, are suitable for human tissue homogenisation to use the DNA and protein in downstream analysis. The ball mill homogenisation is more suitable for RNA extraction and gene expression analysis.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of two reconstructive methods: pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and revascularised free flap in salvage surgery for recurrent head and neck cancer. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analysed 100 cases of patients who had recurrent head and neck cancer and were treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery between 2011 and 2021. The study participants were divided into two groups depending on the method of reconstruction: 62 patients who underwent revascularised free flap reconstruction and 38 patients with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Results: In total, flap necrosis was observed in 20 cases, 18 of which were in the group who received revascularised free flaps (29.03%) and 2 in the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap group (5.26%). The OR of flap failure in the free flap group vs. pectoralis major flap group was 7.36 (95% CI 0.85-63.75; p=0.067) In the group who underwent revascularised free flap reconstruction the total surgery time was significantly longer than in the other group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: We suggest the advantages of using pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps for recurrent head and cancers, which is of the utmost importance for malnourished patients in poor general health and whose primary treatment comprised of a combination therapy.

Certain cancer treatments cause an increase in the number of senescent cells in cancer and nonmalignant cells. Senescence which is characterized by telomere shortening, DNA damage, and improper expression of oncogenes are all examples of triggers that cause cellular senescence. Failure to rejoin the cell cycle after mitotic stimulation, resistance to cell death, and an increased secretory phenotype are all signs of senescence. A rising number of studies point that spontaneous senescence and therapy-induced senescence (TIS) play a strong role in cancer aggressiveness. Senescent cells may have a role in oncogenesis mainly through the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which produces an immunosuppressive environment. This aids in tumor development and relapse by secreting factors such as IL-6, IL-8, CCL5, VEGF, and CXCL5 that contribute to cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as immune-mediated clearance.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to ascertain the risk factors of local recurrence in primary basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 545 patients with head and neck primary basal cell carcinoma treated in years 2008 – 2018 was done. The following data was recorded: age, sex, tumor site, histological subtype, greatest dimension, margin status, experience of operating surgeon and local recurrence Results: Most of the tumors were located nose (165; 30,2%) and auricle (119; 21,8%). The most common pathological subtype was nodular (119; 21,8%). Three hundred and ninety-four tumors (72,2%) were under 20mm in diameter. Positive surgical margins were noted in 107 (19,6%) cases. Local recurrence was observed in 52 (9,5%) cases, of which 29 (29/107; 27%) had positive surgical margins, in 23 (23/438; 5,2%) cases margins were free, which was the only statistically significant factor (p

Zaburzenia kontroli stężenia parcjalnego tlenu odgrywają kluczową rolę w patogenezie wielu chorób, w tym nowotworów. Komórki nowotworowe guzów litych są w szczególności podatne na niedotlenienie (hipoksję) w wyniku niekontrolowanego wzrostu guza oraz niskiego i chaotycznego unaczynienia w rejonie nowotworowym. Zmniejszone ciśnienie tlenu w komórkach guza wiąże się z bardziej agresywnym fenotypem i zwiększonym potencjałem przerzutowym. W warunkach niedostatecznej ilości tlenu nowotwory adaptują się do panujących warunków aktywując geny odpowiedzialne za przeżycie komórek, neowaskularyzację oraz zahamowanie apoptozy. W przypadku nowotworów głowy i szyi, warunki hipoksji często korelowane są ze zmianami w metabolizmie komórkowym oraz odpowiedzi immunologicznej na radio- i chemioterapię.

Purpose To develop a European White Paper document on oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in head and neck cancer (HNC). There are wide variations in the management of OD associated with HNC across Europe. Methods Experts in the management of specific aspects of OD in HNC across Europe were delegated by their professional medical and multidisciplinary societies to contribute to this document. Evidence is based on systematic reviews, consensus-based position statements, and expert opinion. Results Twenty-four sections on HNC-specific OD topics. Conclusion This European White Paper summarizes current best practice on management of OD in HNC, providing recommendations to support patients and health professionals. The body of literature and its level of evidence on diagnostics and treatment for OD in HNC remain poor. This is in the context of an expected increase in the prevalence of OD due to HNC in the near future. Contributing factors to increased prevalence include aging of our European population (including HNC patients) and an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancer, despite the introduction of HPV vaccination in various countries. We recommend timely implementation of OD screening in HNC patients while emphasizing the need for robust scientific research on the treatment of OD in HNC. Meanwhile, its management remains a challenge for European professional associations and policymakers.

The human microbiome has been the focus of numerous research efforts to elucidate the pathogenesis of human diseases including cancer. Oral cancer mortality is high when compared with other cancers, as diagnosis often occurs during late stages. Its prevalence has increased in the USA over the past decade and accounts for over 40,000 new cancer patients each year. Additionally, oral cancer pathogenesis is not fully understood and is likely multifactorial. To unravel the relationships that are associated with the oral microbiome and their virulence factors, we used 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing to characterize the microbial composition and functional content in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumor tissue, non-tumor tissue, and saliva from 18 OSCC patients. Results indicate a higher number of bacteria belonging to the Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes phyla associated with tumor tissue when compared with all other sample types. Additionally, saliva metaproteomics revealed a significant increase of Prevotella in five OSCC subjects, while Corynebacterium was mostly associated with ten healthy subjects. Lastly, we determined that there are adhesion and virulence factors associated with Streptococcus gordonii as well as from known oral pathogens belonging to the Fusobacterium genera found mostly in OSCC tissues. From these results, we propose that not only will the methods utilized in this study drastically improve OSCC diagnostics, but the organisms and specific virulence factors from the phyla detected in tumor tissue may be excellent biomarkers for characterizing disease progression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00248-020-01596-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Contains fulltext : 220257.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) The speed and scale of the global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented pressures on health services worldwide, requiring new methods of service delivery during the health crisis. In the setting of severe resource constraint and high risk of infection to patients and clinicians, there is an urgent need to identify consensus statements on head and neck surgical oncology practice. We completed a modified Delphi consensus process of three rounds with 40 international experts in head and neck cancer surgical, radiation, and medical oncology, representing 35 international professional societies and national clinical trial groups. Endorsed by 39 societies and professional bodies, these consensus practice recommendations aim to decrease inconsistency of practice, reduce uncertainty in care, and provide reassurance for clinicians worldwide for head and neck surgical oncology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the setting of acute severe resource constraint and high risk of infection to patients and staff.

Background The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased substantially in recent decades, particularly p16-positive human papillomavirus (HPV)-related OPSCC, which has risen by 50% in western countries. HPV-positivity is the most favourable non-anatomic predictor of oropharyngeal cancer outcomes, which underscores the importance of incorporating this variable into the cancer staging system. Methods In the present article, we review the differences between the 7th and 8th editions of the AJCC staging system, with particular focus on the role of HPV-positivity in patients with head and neck cancer. Results In the previous edition (7th edition) of the AJCC/UICC manual, HPV status and its correlation with nodal metastasis were not considered, thereby leading to incorrect lymph node (N) staging and, potentially, inadequate treatment and worse outcomes. The 8th edition of the AJCC manual addresses these issues, providing more accurate discrimination between groups and better risk stratification in patients with HPV-positive OPSCC. In the future, additional adjustments are likely to be needed, such as unification of the pathological and clinical staging models. Conclusions The new staging system is substantially more accurate than the previous system and should be widely adopted in routine clinical practice.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of surgical experience in a high volume head and neck surgery department on basal cell carcinoma margin status. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 546 patients surgically treated for primary basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck region was carried out. Resections were performed by 4 specialists with equal experience in head and neck surgery and 4 ENT residents at the same level of surgical training. A margin of 3–5 mm was chosen, according to guidelines. Results: The study consisted of 304 males and 242 females, mean age of 69 (range 26–100). Most of the tumors were loca-ted on the nose (165 pts; 30.2%) and auricle (119; 21.7%). The most common histological subtype was nodular (119; 21.7%). Tumor size was up to 20 mm in 394 cases (72%). Positive surgical margins were found in 112 cases (20.5%). There was no difference in terms of positive surgical margins between residents (19/119 cases; 15.9%) and specialists (93/426; 21.8%; p = 0.161). Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that adequate surgical training in a dedicated head and neck surgery de-partment is an efficient factor in obtaining free surgical margins in head and neck basal cell carcinoma.

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are among the most common cancers in the world. In terms of frequency of occurrence in the world, HNC ranks sixth. However, the problem of modern oncology is the low specificity of the therapies used, which is why most of the currently used chemotherapeutic agents have a systemic effect. The use of nanomaterials could overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. Researchers are increasingly using polydopamine (PDA) in nanotherapeutic systems for HNC due to its unique properties. PDA has found applications in chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, targeted therapy, and combination therapies that facilitate better carrier control for the effective reduction of cancer cells than individual therapies. The purpose of this review was to present the current knowledge on the potential use of polydopamine in head and neck cancer research.

Purpose As the practice of nutritional support in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) during curative radio(chemo)therapy is quite heterogeneous, we carried out a survey among European specialists. Methods A 19-item questionnaire was drawn up and disseminated via the web by European scientific societies involved in HNC and nutrition. Results Among 220 responses, the first choice was always for the enteral route; naso-enteral tube feeding was preferred to gastrostomy in the short term, while the opposite for period longer than 1 month. Indications were not solely related to the patient’s nutritional status, but also to the potential burden of the therapy. Conclusion European HNC specialists contextualize the use of the nutritional support in a comprehensive plan of therapy. There is still uncertainty relating to the role of naso-enteral feeding versus gastrostomy feeding in patients requiring

The aim of this study is to assess the influence of semiquantitative PET-derived parameters as well as hematological parameters in overall survival in HNSCC patients using neural network analysis. Retrospective analysis was performed on 106 previously untreated HNSCC patients. Several PET-derived parameters (SUV

Previous studies have shown that the chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) protein is overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Patients with these diseases had significantly higher CLIC1 plasma levels than healthy controls.To determine the plasma concentration of CLIC1 in patients with OSCC and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).We collected blood samples from patients diagnosed with OSCC (n = 13) and LSCC (n = 7), as well as from healthy controls (n = 8). The blood samples were centrifuged to obtain plasma and stored at -80°C. The CLIC1 plasma concentration was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The mean CLIC1 plasma concentration was higher in the OSCC group than in the LSCC and control groups. Patients with OSCC and nodal metastases had significantly higher CLIC1 plasma concentration levels than nonmetastatic patients (p0.0001; Tukey's multiple comparisons test) and controls (p = 0.0004). The CLIC1 concentration correlated significantly with the presence of nodal spread (p = 0.0003; Spearman's r = 0.8613) and overall TNM staging (p = 0.0167; Spearman's r = 0.6620). No differences in CLIC1 plasma levels were observed between the LSCC and control groups. The CLIC1 plasma concentration was not associated with age, sex, tumor stage, or tumor grade.There were no differences in CLIC1 plasma concentration between healthy controls and patients with LSCC. However, our findings suggest that the presence of this protein in plasma may be associated with lymphatic metastasis in patients with OSCC. More research is needed to confirm this possible association.

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx was published in 2020. It was therefore decided by both the ESMO and the Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO) to convene a special, virtual guidelines meeting in July 2021 to adapt the ESMO 2020 guidelines to consider the potential ethnic differences associated with the treatment of SCCs of the head and neck (SCCHN) in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with SCCHN (excluding nasopharyngeal carcinomas) representing the oncological societies of Korea (KSMO), China (CSCO), India (ISMPO), Japan (JSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence and was independent of the current treatment practices and drug access restrictions in the different Asian countries. The latter was discussed when appropriate. This manuscript provides a series of expert recommendations (Clinical Practice Guidelines) which can be used to provide guidance to health care providers and clinicians for the optimisation of the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with SCC of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx across Asia., Highlights • This article provides ESMO expert recommendations adapted for the treatment of SCCHN (excluding nasopharyngeal carcinomas) in Asian patients. • The aim was to provide guidance for the optimisation of the management of such patients across Asia. • The availability and applicability of certain procedures as they relate to certain of the recommendations are discussed.

Purpose SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are a key step in fighting the pandemic. Nevertheless, their rapid development did not allow for testing among specific population subgroups such as pregnant and breastfeeding women, or elaborating specific guidelines for healthcare personnel working in high infection risk specialties, such as otolaryngology (ORL). This clinical consensus statement (CCS) aims to offer guidance for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to this high-risk population based on the best evidence available. Methods A multidisciplinary international panel of 33 specialists judged statements through a two-round modified Delphi method survey. Statements were designed to encompass the following topics: risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection and use of protective equipment in ORL; SARS-Cov-2 infection and vaccines and respective risks for the mother/child dyad; and counseling for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnant, breastfeeding, or fertile healthcare workers (PBFHW). All ORL PBFHW were considered as the target audience. Results Of the 13 statements, 7 reached consensus or strong consensus, 2 reached no consensus, and 2 reached near-consensus. According to the statements with strong consensus otorhinolaryngologists—head and neck surgeons who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or with childbearing potential should have the opportunity to receive SARS-Cov-2 vaccination. Moreover, personal protective equipment (PPE) should still be used even after the vaccination. Conclusion Until prospective evaluations on these topics are available, ORL-HNS must be considered a high infection risk specialty. While the use of PPE remains pivotal, ORL PBFHW should be allowed access to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination provided they receive up-to-date information., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Wprowadzenie: Chorzy przed 50. rokiem życia z rakiem gardła środkowego HPV dodatnim rokują znacznie lepiej w kontekście przeżycia niż chorzy HPV negatywni. Następstwa leczenia onkologicznego wpływają bezpośrednio na fizjologiczną funkcję narządów górnego odcinka drogi oddechowo-pokarmowej i jakość życia tych osób. Z tego powodu tak istotny jest wybór odpowiedniej terapii. Chirurgia minimalnie inwazyjna zapewnia radykalność leczenia onkologicznego z równoczesnym zachowaniem jakości życia. Główną metodą leczenia chirurgicznego jest dojście przezustne z wykorzystaniem TLM, metod elektrochirurgicznych oraz TORS. Radiochemioterapia jako leczenie pierwotne w pierwszym i drugim stopniu zaawansowania klinicznego jest równie skuteczna. Jednakże późne powikłania w postaci zaburzeń połykania, oddychania, smaku i węchu powodują, że w ostatnich latach nastąpił zwrot w kierunku chirurgii minimalnie inwazyjnej, szczególnie przezustnej chirurgii robotowej, która od ponad 20 lat jest szeroko stosowana w chirurgii głowy i szyi w: Stanach Zjednoczonych Ameryki Pn., Azji i krajach Europy Zachodniej. Polska po wielu latach dołączyła do grona krajów, w których wykonuje się zabiegi w obrębie głowy i szyi przy użyciu chirurgii robotowej da Vinci. Cel: Celem pracy jest przedstawienie doświadczeń własnych w pracy z TORS w Klinice Chirurgii Głowy, Szyi i Onkologii Laryngologicznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu oraz analiza najnowszych doniesień literaturowych dotyczących wykorzystania TORS w leczeniu raka płaskonabłonkowego części ustnej gardła.

Aim The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of radiological diagnosis of laryngeal cartilage infiltration by histopathological examination of laryngeal specimen after total laryngectomy. Background Despite the development of new medical technologies and significant clinical advances allowing early diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer, mortality is still on the rise. Neoplastic infiltration of the laryngeal cartilages is the most common source of error in the assessment of cancer staging. Furthermore, cartilage invasion is listed as a contraindication to partial surgical techniques as well as radiotherapy. Materials and methods The study was carried out on 21 larynges following total laryngectomy. Before taking the decision to perform surgery, high-resolution CT scans were performed in all cases. An extended histopathological examination was conducted using a unique vertical cross-section of the whole larynx. Results Pathology reported 2 cases of arytenoid cartilage invasion, 5 cases of cricoid cartilage invasion, 12 cases of thyroid cartilage penetration, 1 case of internal cortex invasion and 9 cases of extra-laryngeal spread. CT imaging identified 8 of 13 cases (61.5%) of pathologically proven invasion of thyroid cartilage and only 2 cases (2/9, 22%) of extra-laryngeal spread. According to CT results, arytenoid cartilage invasion was correctly identified in 2 cases, cricoid cartilage invasion in 4 (4/5, 80%). The positive predictive values for thyroid, cricoid and arytenoid cartilage invasion and penetration were 80%, 66.7% and 50%, respectively. In case of pre-laryngeal spread the positive predictive value was 100%. Conclusion Despite increasingly advanced methods involved in the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, many discrepancies may be observed between the radiological and histopathological assessments. CT imaging has limitations especially in thyroid cartilage penetration and extra-laryngeal spread assessment in advanced laryngeal cancer cases. An extended histopathological examination, involving vertical cross-sections of the whole larynx is a very precise study that allows a precise determination of local cancer staging (T).

BACKGROUND The role of molecular markers in salivary gland carcinoma (SGC) is not well understood. We evaluated molecular marker expression and their prognostic value. METHODS Immunohistochemical analysis of 124 tumor specimens was performed to determine expression of androgen (AR), estrogen (ER), and progesterone (PR) receptors and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), programmed death ligand 1 receptor (PD-L1), and PD-L1 in tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cell (TIMC). Survival outcomes (disease-free survival [DFS] and overall survival [OS]), pT and N classification, margin status, and treatment failure were assessed. RESULTS Most patients (78; 62.9%) had early-stage SGC. AR positivity and EGFR positivity were detected in 21.0% and 78.6%, respectively, of tumors. AR positivity and PD-L1 negativity were associated with locally advanced disease. PD-L1-negativity was associated with higher recurrence (38.5% vs 0%; P

Płaskonabłonkowy rak głowy i szyi (HNSCC, ang. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma) to nowotwór wywodzący się z komórek płaskonabłonkowych błon śluzowych jamy ustnej, nosa lub gardła. Pomimo znacznych postępów konwencjonalnych metod leczenia, 5-letni wskaźnik przeżycia bez progresji u pacjentów z miejscowo zaawansowanym HNSCC HPV(-) nadal nie przekracza 50%. Niskie wskaźniki przeżycia w połączeniu z wysoką toksycznością stosowanych terapii, podkreślają konieczność wprowadzenia nowych strategii terapeutycznych. Obecne badania potwierdzają, że układ immunologiczny odgrywa kluczową rolę w patogenezie HNSCC. Lepsze zrozumienie mechanizmów molekularnych odpowiedzialnych za ucieczkę komórek nowotworowych spod kontroli układu immunologicznego oraz dokładne poznanie szlaków molekularnych odpowiedzialnych za rozwój płaskonabłonkowego raka głowy i szyi umożliwi opracowanie bardziej efektywnych terapii. Celem pracy jest przegląd wiedzy dotyczącej roli układu odpornościowego w ucieczce komórek nowotworowych HNSCC spod nadzoru immunologicznego.

Simple Summary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. It arises from the epithelium of the upper aerodigestive tract. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a significant role of microRNAs in HNSCC formation and progression. The aim of this study was to explore and compare the expression of HNSCC related miRNAs in tumor vs neighboring healthy tissue of HNSCC patients with tumors located in either the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx. Our results demonstrated that expression of these miRNAs was significantly different not only between healthy and tumor tissues, but also among tumor locations. Further analysis indicated that microRNA expression could be used to distinguish between tumor and healthy tissues, and prognose the overall survival of patients. Abstract Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. These tumors originate from epithelial cells of the upper aerodigestive tract. HNSCC tumors in different regions can have significantly different molecular characteristics. While many microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be involved in the regulation of the carcinogenesis and pathogenesis of HNSCC, new HNSCC related miRNAs are still being discovered. The aim of this study was to explore potential miRNA biomarkers that can be used to diagnose HNSCC and prognose survival of HNSCC patients. For this purpose, we chose a panel of 12 miRNAs: miR-146a-5p, miR-449a, miR-126-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-34b-5p, miR-34c-5p, miR-217-5p, miR-378c, miR-6510-3p, miR-96-5p, miR-149-5p, and miR-133a-5p. Expression of these miRNAs was measured in tumor tissue and neighboring healthy tissue collected from patients diagnosed with HNSCC (n = 79) in either the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx. We observed a pattern of differentially expressed miRNAs at each of these cancer locations. Our study showed that some of these miRNAs, separately or in combination, could serve as biomarkers distinguishing between healthy and tumor tissue, and their expression correlated with patients’ overall survival.

RNA methylation at the nitrogen sixth of adenosine (m6A, N6-methyladenosine) is the most abundant RNA modification which plays a crucial role in all RNA metabolic aspects. Recently, m6A modification has been assigned to mediate the biological processes of cancer cells, but their significance in HNSCC development is still poorly described. Thus, the main aim of this study was to globally quantify m6A modification by the mass spectrometry approach and determine the mRNA expression level of selected m6A RNA methyltransferase (METTL3), demethylase (FTO), and m6A readers (YTHDF2, YTHDC2) in 45 HNSCC patients and 4 cell lines (FaDu, Detroit 562, A-253 and SCC-15) using qPCR. In the results, we have not observed differences in the global amount of m6A modification and the mRNA level of the selected genes between the cancerous and paired-matched histopathologically unchanged tissues from 45 HNSCC patients. However, we have found a positive correlation between selected RNA methylation machinery genes expression and m6A abundance on total RNA and characterized the transcript level of those genes in the HNSCC cell lines. Moreover, the lack of global m6A differences between cancerous and histopathologically unchanged tissues suggests that m6A alterations in specific RNA sites may specifically influence HNSCC tumorigenesis.

Most patients with recurrent oral cancer are not eligible for salvage surgery. Among those who are candidates for surgical salvage, failure rates are high. Given the potential negative impact of salvage surgery on quality of life (QoL)—particularly in unsuccessful interventions—the decision to operate must be weighed carefully. However, the variables associated with successful surgical salvage in oral cancer have not been clearly established. In the present retrospective study, we sought to determine the factors associated with disease recurrence and successful salvage surgery. We evaluated the following parameters in patients (n = 261) treated for primary oral cancer at our institution from 2010 to 2017: age, T/N status, perineurial invasion, lymphovascular invasion, extranodal extension, and margin status. In total, 36 patients (33%) were considered eligible for salvage surgery. Four variables were significantly associated with suitability for salvage surgery: early primary T stage, no primary neck disease (N0), no positive margins in the primary resection, and no adjuvant radiotherapy following primary resection. The only variable significantly associated with improved salvage outcomes was negative margin status after the primary tumor resection, underscoring the importance of margin status on treatment outcomes. Additional studies are needed to identify other factors associated with successful salvage surgery in order to better stratify patients according to the likelihood of success, thus potentially avoiding the negative impact on QoL in patients who undergo unsuccessful surgery.

The human microbiome has been the focus of numerous research efforts to elucidate the pathogenesis of human diseases including cancer. Oral cancer mortality is high when compared with other cancers, as diagnosis often occurs during late stages. Its prevalence has increased in the USA over the past decade and accounts for over 40,000 new cancer patients each year. Additionally, oral cancer pathogenesis is not fully understood and is likely multifactorial. To unravel the relationships that are associated with the oral microbiome and their virulence factors, we used 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing to characterize the microbial composition and functional content in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumor tissue, non-tumor tissue, and saliva from 18 OSCC patients. Results indicate a higher number of bacteria belonging to the Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes phyla associated with tumor tissue when compared with all other sample types. Additionally, saliva metaproteomics revealed a significant increase of Prevotella in five OSCC subjects, while Corynebacterium was mostly associated with ten healthy subjects. Lastly, we determined that there are adhesion and virulence factors associated with Streptococcus gordonii as well as from known oral pathogens belonging to the Fusobacterium genera found mostly in OSCC tissues. From these results, we propose that not only will the methods utilized in this study drastically improve OSCC diagnostics, but the organisms and specific virulence factors from the phyla detected in tumor tissue may be excellent biomarkers for characterizing disease progression.

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common skin lesion often defined as premalignant with more evidence indicating it as early stage of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). The AK may remain stable, transform towards incisive cSCC or in some cases revert spontaneously. Several different underlying conditions can increase risk of cSCC, however, advanced age represents major risk of AK and its progression towards cSCC indicating increased risk during chronological aging. Importantly, AK and cSCC are characterized by similar genetic profile, which lead researchers to search for novel biomarkers allowing early detection. As skin sampling is often invasive and causes scaring, in the current study, we investigated a novel approach to establish potential blood circulating genetic markers in patients diagnosed with AK and cSCC. Based on clinical diagnosis and dermoscopy, we recruited 13 patients with AK (divided into two groups: the first included patients with no more than three lesions, the second group included patients with at least ten lesions) and two additional individuals diagnosed with cSCC. Deep sequencing analysis of serum circulating miRNAs detected a total of 68 expressed miRNAs. Further analysis indicated 2 regulated miRNAs for AK cohort and 12 miRNAs for cSCC patients, while there were 26 miRNAs differentially regulated between cSCC and AK patients. There was also one commonly regulated miRNA between AK and cSCC patients and ten miRNAs that were regulated in cSCC when compared with both control and AK patients. We did not observe any differences between the AK groups. In conclusion, our analysis detected in circulation some miRNA that were previously recognized as important in AK, cSCC, and other type of skin cancer supporting this approach as potential non-invasive diagnosis of AK and cSCC.