Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor affecting the head and neck region (Leemans et al., 2018). It is often diagnosed at a later stage, leading to a poor prognosis (Muzaffar et al., 2021; Li et al., 2023). Despite advances in OSCC treatment, the overall 5-year survival rate of OSCC patients remains alarmingly low, falling below 50% (Jehn et al., 2019; Johnson et al., 2020). According to statistics, only 50% of patients with oral cancer can be treated with surgery. Once discovered, it is more frequently at an advanced stage. In addition, owing to the aggressively invasive and metastatic characteristics of OSCC, most patients die within one year of diagnosis. Hence, the pursuit of novel therapeutic drugs and treatments to improve the response of oral cancer to medication, along with a deeper understanding of their effects, remains crucial objectives in oral cancer research (Johnson et al., 2020; Bhat et al., 2021; Chen et al., 2023; Ruffin et al., 2023).
Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism* ; Luteolin/therapeutic use* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/drug therapy* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Cell Line, Tumor

The aim of our study was to describe the radiologic findings of extensive acute lung injury associated with limited thoracic irradiation. Limited thoracic irradiation occasionally results in acute lung injury. In this condition, chest radiograph shows diffuse ground-glass appearance in both lungs and thin-section CT scans show diffuse bilateral ground-glass attenuation with traction bronchiectasis, interlobular septal thickening and intralobular smooth linear opacities.
Acute Disease ; Adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology ; Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy ; Adenocarcinoma/complications* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/complications* ; Journal Article ; Human ; Lung/radiation effects* ; Lung/pathology ; Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Lung Neoplasms/complications* ; Male ; Middle Age ; Radiation Injuries/radiography ; Radiation Injuries/pathology ; Radiation Injuries/etiology* ; Thorax/radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor effectiveness of teniposide in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and to find evidence for using teniposide for treatment of patients with OSCC.

METHODSSeventy-five patients with OSCC from the School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second medical University during 1999 to 2001 were evaluated. Tumors were diagnosed pathologically, and drug sensitivity tested. The antitumor drugs tested were cisplatin (CDDP) and teniposide (VM-26). Fresh drug was diluted in complete medium at fold of five times of peak plasma concentration (PPC x 5) achieved by intravenous administration of clinical doses. The concentrations were VM-26 60 mg/L, CDDP 15 mg/L.

RESULTSThe MTT assay was performed in 75 of 81 patients (success rate 92.6%). The clinical stages of the 75 patients according to the UICC TNM classification of malignant tumors were 28 with stage IV, 34 with stage III, 11 with stage II and 2 with stage I. The pathological grades of the 75 patients according to three step classification were 18 with Grade I, 37 with Grade I approximately II and 20 with Grade III. At a drug concentration of PPC x 5, the inhibition rates of tumor cells for VM-26 and CDDP were 63.34% and 24.08%, respectively. The inhibition rates of tumor cells for VM-26 were significantly higher than those for CDDP (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe inhibition rates of OSCC cells for VM-26 are significantly higher than for CDDP. VM-26 may be the first selected drug for treating patients with OSCC.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Teniposide ; pharmacology

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improved survival of partial patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). However, it was still insufficient of data in older patients. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy in patients with LUSC in Chinese population of real world. METHODS: A total of 185 LUSC patients underwent pathological diagnosis were involved from January 2018 to January 2022. Patients were divided into elderly group (age ≥70 years) and younger group (age <70 years). The efficacy of mono-immunotherapy or combined with chemotherapy to chemotherapy in first-line treatment was compared. The expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) were evaluated. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 was used to evaluate the efficacy, and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03 was used to evaluate immune-related adverse. Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank test was performed. Cox regression was used in prognostic analysis. RESULTS: Combined therapy acquired significantly higher overall response rate (ORR) compared with chemotherapy alone in elderly group (P<0.05), and also in younger group, despite the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) in elderly group were similar with younger group (P>0.05). Both combined group and immunology alone demonstrated prolonged mPFS in first-line compared with chemotherapy in elderly group. And combined group demonstrated significantly prolonged mPFS compared with chemotherapy in younger group (P<0.01). There was no difference of mOS between different regimes in two groups. Elderly LUSC patients had higher PD-L1 positive rate (≥1%) and similar TMB compared with younger group. There was no relationship between mPFS and mOS with the expression of PD-L1 and TMB. Immunology combined with chemotherapy demonstrated better mPFS compared to chemotherapy in first-line therapy with TMB-High (P<0.05), and inferior mPFS with TMB-Low despite the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Cox regression model demonstrated that clinical stage was an independent predictor and prognostic factor. The incidence of immune-related adverse was 58.0% (51/88) and grade 3 or above 25.0% (22/88). The most common grade 3 adverse events were rash, immune-associated pneumonia, and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS Immunology combined with chemotherapy increased ORR, mPFS and mOS of Chinese patients with LUSC in first-line therapy compared with chemotherapy. There was no difference of efficacy and adverse effects rate between elderly group and younger group. The adverse effects of immunology in elderly patients with LUSC were controllable.
Aged ; B7-H1 Antigen/analysis* ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy* ; China ; Humans ; Lung/pathology* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology*

Oncologists and scientists in the field of head and neck cancer exchanged their research findings and clinical experiences in the Sino-USA Symposium on Head and Neck Cancer, which was held January 6-7, 2012 in Guangzhou, China. The symposium was jointly organized by Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). The Guangdong Provincial Anti-Cancer Association and the Chinese Journal of Cancer also helped in organizing the conference. Speakers were from China (SYSUCC, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center) and the United States (MDACC). The presentations covered most kinds of head and neck cancers and included both basic and clinical research progress. In particular, NPC was discussed in depth. The symposium explored the reality that cancer is complex and numerous questions remain to be answered, even though there has already been an enormous effort into research. International exchanges of experience and in-depth cooperation are definitely needed to improve our capability of caring for cancer patients. In this article, we provide highlights of the presentations.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Intestine, Small ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of patients with cardiac metastases from digestive system tumors. Methods: This retrospective study collected and analyzed the medical records of patients with cardiac metastases from digestive system tumors who received treatments in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 1999 and January 2021. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Results: A total of 19 patients were identified. The primary tumors were esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n=7), gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (n=6), hepatobiliary cancers (n=3) and colorectal cancers (n=3). 16 patients had pericardial metastases, 2 patients had right atrium metastases, and 1 patient had left ventricle metastasis. The most common symptom was dyspnea, which was present in 8 cases. 7 patients received locoregional treatment, while 11 patients underwent systemic therapies. The median overall survival from diagnosis of primary cancer was 31.4 months, and the median overall survival time from diagnosis of cardiac metastasis was 4.7 months. Conclusion: Cardiac metastasis from digestive system tumors is associated with low incidence and a poor prognosis. Systemic treatment remains the cornerstone of management, while novel anti-tumor drugs may improve therapeutic efficacy.
Humans ; Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ; Digestive System Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) present significant efficacy in the treatment of malignant tumors, and they have been approved as the first-line of treatment for various cancers. Pembrolizumab monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy has been recommended by domestic and foreign guidelines for the first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Although ICIs represent a milestone in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, potential problems still need to be addressed, such as the selection of the efficacy predictors for ICIs, the evaluation of the tumor response to ICIs, and the treatment of immune hyperprogression and immune-related adverse events. Therefore, to form a relatively unified understanding of ICIs treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, we integrated the clinical experience of multi-disciplinary experts of head and neck cancers on the basis of current clinical hot issues and finally developed this consensus.
Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/drug therapy* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Consensus ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy*

BACKGROUNDCigarette smoking has been verified as the risk factor of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Overexpression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is shown in ESCC. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cigarette smoking ethanol extract (EE) on the proliferation of the human ESCC cell lines, and to explore the correlation between the proliferation rate of human ESCC cell lines and the expression pattern of COX-2. Whether aspirin can inhibit the proliferation of the ESCC cell lines pretreated with EE, and regulate the mRNA expression levels of COX-2 are also examined.

METHODSTwo human ESCC cell lines were selected. EC109 was poorly differentiated and EC9706 was highly differentiated. EC109 and EC9706 were treated with EE and aspirin for different time course. The cell growth of ESCC was measured by MTT reduction assay and the expression of COX-2 was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSEE promoted the proliferation of EC109 and EC9706 in dose- and time-dependent manners. In the concentration range (10 - 100 microg/ml for EE) and in the time range (24 - 72 hours) after addition of EE, the cell proliferation was prominent in an up-scaled manner respectively. Aspirin could inhibit the proliferation of cell lines EC109 and EC9706, pretreated with EE for 5 hours, in a dose-dependent manner. In the concentration range (0.5 - 8.0 mmol/L for aspirin), the cell growth inhibition was prominent in an up-scaled manner accordingly (P < 0.05). The effect of EE on cell proliferation was correlated with the up-regulation of COX-2 gene. However, the cell growth inhibition of aspirin was correlated with the down-regulation of COX-2 gene.

CONCLUSIONSEE can stimulate the proliferation of human ESCC cell lines EC109 and EC9706, most likely through up-regulating the expression of COX-2. Aspirin can inhibit the proliferation of ESCC cell lines induced by EE, which suggests it may be advantageous in the chemoprevention and therapy of human tobacco-related ESCC. And its effect is likely to be related with modulating COX-2 activity.

Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; physiology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Smoking ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of malignant tumors in head and neck region complicated by fungal infection.

METHODSTwenty-one cases of malignant tumors occurring in head and neck region complicated by fungal infection were retrieved from the archival file. The light microscopic findings were reviewed. Histochemical (for PAS and GMS) and immunohistochemical (for MUC5B) studies were carried out. Fungal culture results were available in 13 of the 21 cases.

RESULTSThe age of the patients ranged from 12 to 72 years (median = 48 years). The male-to-female ratio was 17:4. Eight cases (38.1%) were complicated by invasive fungal sinusitis, with orbital involvement in 6 cases and brain involvement in 1 case. The primary tumors in such cases included leukemia (n = 7) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 1). The fungi belonged to Zygomycete in 5 cases and Aspergillus in 3 cases. These patients had history of chemotherapy/radiotherapy or antibiotics usage. The remaining 13 cases of fungal infection often affected necrotic tumor tissue in nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx and palate. The fungi involved were Aspergillus (n = 6) and Candida (n = 4). Seven of such patients had received radiotherapy. Fungal culture was positive in 9 cases. Fourteen patients had follow-up information available and six of them died of the disease.

CONCLUSIONSMalignant tumors occurring in head and neck region can be complicated by fungal infection. Invasive fungal sinusitis (due to Zygomycetes and Aspergillus) often occurs in patients with leukemia, tends to involve orbit and is associated with poor prognosis. On the other hand, Aspergillus and Candida are the commonest fungi found in the necrotic tumor tissue. Pathologic examination remains the hallmark in confirming the diagnosis and fungal typing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; Candida ; isolation & purification ; Candidiasis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Young Adult ; Zygomycosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology