Disease and toxicity outcomes for a modern cohort of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of cutaneous origin involving the parotid gland: Comparison of volumetric modulated arc therapy and pencil beam scanning proton therapy

OBJECTIVES

We sought to describe outcomes for locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) involving the parotid treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) versus pencil beam scanning proton beam therapy (PBT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were gathered from 2016 to 2022 from 5 sites of a large academic RT department; included patients were treated with RT and had parotid involvement by: direct extension of a cutaneous primary, parotid regional spread from a previously or contemporaneously resected but geographically separate cutaneous primary, or else primary parotid SCC (with a cutaneous primary ostensibly occult). Acute toxicities were provider-reported (CTCAE v5.0) and graded at each on treatment visit. Statistical analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 12.9 months (1.3 - 72.8); 67 patients were included. Positive margins/extranodal extension were present in 34 cases; gross disease in 17. RT types: 39 (58.2 %) VMAT and 28 (41.8 %) PBT. Concurrent systemic therapy was delivered in 10 (14.9 %) patients. There were 17 treatment failures (25.4 %), median time of 168 days. Pathologically positive neck nodes were associated with locoregional recurrence (p = 0.015). Oral cavity, pharyngeal constrictor, and contralateral parotid doses were all significantly lower for PBT. Median weight change was -3.8 kg (-14.1 - 5.1) for VMAT and -3 kg (-16.8 - 3) for PBT (p = 0.013). Lower rates of ≥ grade 1 xerostomia (p = 0.002) and ≥ grade 1 dysguesia (p < 0.001) were demonstrated with PBT.

CONCLUSIONS

Cutaneous SCC involving the parotid can be an aggressive clinical entity despite modern multimodal therapy. PBT offers significantly lower dose to organs at risk compared to VMAT, which seemingly yields diminished acute toxicities.

Reprogramming Chromosome Ends by Functional Histone Acetylation

Cancers harness embryonic programs to evade aging and promote survival. Normally, sequences at chromosome ends called telomeres shorten with cell division, serving as a countdown clock to limit cell replication. Therefore, a crucial aspect of cancerous transformation is avoiding replicative aging by activation of telomere repair programs. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) activate a transient expression of the gene Zscan4, which correlates with chromatin de-condensation and telomere extension. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cancers reactivate ZSCAN4, which in turn regulates the phenotype of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Our study reveals a new role for human ZSCAN4 in facilitating functional histone H3 acetylation at telomere chromatin. Next-generation sequencing indicates ZSCAN4 enrichment at telomere chromatin. These changes correlate with ZSCAN4-induced histone H3 acetylation and telomere elongation, while CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of ZSCAN4 leads to reduced H3 acetylation and telomere shortening. Our study elucidates the intricate involvement of ZSCAN4 and its significant contribution to telomere chromatin remodeling. These findings suggest that ZSCAN4 induction serves as a novel link between 'stemness' and telomere maintenance. Targeting ZSCAN4 may offer new therapeutic approaches to effectively limit or enhance the replicative lifespan of stem cells and cancer cells.

Mercury and selenium concentrations in lanugo of free-ranging California sea lions in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico

Total mercury ([THg]) and selenium ([TSe]) concentrations were determined in California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) lanugo from the Gulf of California in 2021 and 2022. Relationships with sex, morphometrics, and year were evaluated. Following toxicological thresholds of concern for piscivorous mammals, most pups had a [THg] < 10 ppm, one pup (2021) had a [THg] > 20 ppm, no pups had a [THg] > 30 ppm. Females had significantly higher [TSe] than males; sex did not influence [THg]. [THg] and [TSe] in 2022 were significantly higher in the general population and male cohorts compared to 2021. Significant negative correlations were observed between [THg], [TSe], and morphometrics (2021). These results indicate that, compared to other pinniped species, regional California sea lions may have a decreased likelihood of experiencing Hg-related adverse health effects. Year-related changes in element concentrations suggest continued monitoring of this population to assess pinniped, environmental, and potentially, human health.

How the Underlying Etiology of Cirrhosis Impacts Response to SBRT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

In the US, incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have more than tripled and death rates have doubled since 1980. In 2022, it is expected for 41,260 new cases to be diagnosed with 30,520 deaths. Many etiologies contribute to the development of HCC including alcoholic cirrhosis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, HCV, HBV, NASH, and genetic disorders like hereditary hemochromatosis. An increasing number of patients are not candidates for curative options such as resection or transplant and the role of alternative liver directed as therapies has increased. SBRT has emerged as a safe and effective option, but there is little known about the outcomes related to the etiology of the HCC. The purpose of this study is to characterize the rates of toxicity and efficacy between different HCC etiologies in patients who were treated with SBRT.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A single institutional database was compiled of all patients with HCC who were treated with SBRT. Patients with HCC etiologies of HCV, alcoholic cirrhosis, or NASH cirrhosis who received SBRT and monitored with liver function tests and imaging (MRI or CT) and were not transplanted were included Demographic information, disease etiology, all treatment courses, lab values, radiologic response, and follow-up were collected on all patients. SPSS was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Consecutive patients (n = 37, 43 courses of radiation) who received SBRT between 2013- January 2022 were included. Most patients were male (n = 32, 86.5%) and average age was 64.73 ± 7.42 years (range: 50-82 years). A majority of patients had either HCV or HCV and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 28, 75.7%) and there were no baseline difference in child Pugh score, tumor size, or number of prior treatments. Most patients were treated with 50Gy/5 fx (n = 26, 70.3%) with 5 others being treated with 45Gy/5fx to meet mean liver constraints. Most patients had a decrease in ALT (n = 22, 59.5%) while almost half of patients had a decrease in AFP (n = 14, 48.3%) at average follow-up of 11.84 ± 5.35 months. There was a significant correlation between HCC etiology and change in bilirubin with patients with HCV being more likely to have increases in total bilirubin (χ2 (6) = 17.5, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Patients with HCV induced cirrhosis may be more fragile and have a significant increased risk of toxicity after SBRT based on total bilirubin changes. Most patients did have a decrease in ALT showing potential for some improvement in liver function with SBRT. However, almost half of patients have some biologic efficacy with SBRT independent of HCC etiology. Further studies should include looking at the biologic differences in the etiologies and what treatment liver-directed therapies may be best for each population.

Effects of Respiratory and Cardiac Motion on Dose to the Left Anterior Descending Artery in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Lung Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Radiation dose to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) appears to be an independent predictor of major cardiac events and all-cause mortality following radiation therapy (RT) for lung cancer. In this study, we characterize the dosimetric effects of respiratory (RM) and cardiac (CM) motion on LAD.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Ten patients with stage IIIA-IVA lung cancer received cine MRIs (25 phases) at expiration which were used to evaluate the CM, and 4D CT scans for the evaluation of RM. Following registration of the expiration images of 4D CTs with MRIs, RT dose was transferred from planning CT datasets to all phases of 4D CTs and cine MRIs. LAD was manually contoured on all scans. The contours from each 4D phase represent LADs over multiple cardiac cycles, thus they are referred to as cLAD from here on. Displacements and dose variations of cLAD between exhale/inhale on 4D CTs and of LAD between systolic and diastolic phases on cine MRIs were analyzed, and paired t-tests were performed to assess the significance of the differences observed.

RESULTS

The following metrics are reported averaged over all patients. Clinical treatment planning CT metrics and doses: Mean dose, max dose, V5 Gy and V15 Gy were 15.0 (±11.3) Gy, 31.1 (±22.1) Gy, 53 (±33)%, 35 (±30)%. The cLAD metrics and dose variations due to respiratory motion (between exhale and inhale): RM amplitude was 0.3±0.2cm (RL 0.3 ± 0.1 cm, AP 0.2 ± 0.2 cm, SI 0.3 ± 0.2 cm). The variations in mean dose, max dose, V5 and V15 were 4.0 (±4.0) Gy, 1.6 (±1.5) Gy, 4.4 (±3.4)%, 4.0 (±3.4)%. Mean, max, V5 Gy and V15 Gy increased or remained unchanged with expiration in 8, 9, 5 and 5 patients, respectively. LAD metrics and dose variations due to cardiac motion (between systole and diastole): CM amplitude was 0.2 ± 0.1 cm (RL 0.2 ± 0.1 cm, AP 0.2 ± 0.1 cm, SI 0.3 ± 0.1 cm). The variations in mean dose, max dose, V5 and V15 were 1.7 (±1.4) Gy, 1.2 (±0.9) Gy, 5.2 (± 6.7)%, 4.6 (± 4.0)%. Mean, max, V5 Gy and V15 Gy increased or remained unchanged with diastole in 7, 7, 8 and 8 patients respectively. Statistical significance: The differences in displacement and dose between respiration and cardiac motion were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Respiratory and cardiac-induced physiological variations of the LAD position have dosimetric consequences comparable in magnitude. Expiration and diastole lead to increased LAD doses. This underscores the importance of considering both the respiratory and the cardiac motion when motion management techniques are considered. 4D CTs inherently include the cardiac motion. However, if breath-hold is used for respiratory motion mitigation, CM might not be captured appropriately due to short tube rotation times. In this case, understanding CM characteristics is important for more accurate assessment of LAD dose.

First Observation of Cyclotron Radiation from MeV-Scale e^{±} following Nuclear β Decay

We present an apparatus for detection of cyclotron radiation yielding a frequency-based β^{±} kinetic energy determination in the 5 keV to 2.1 MeV range, characteristic of nuclear β decays. The cyclotron frequency of the radiating β particles in a magnetic field is used to determine the β energy precisely. Our work establishes the foundation to apply the cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy (CRES) technique, developed by the Project 8 Collaboration, far beyond the 18-keV tritium endpoint region. We report initial measurements of β^{-}'s from ^{6}He and β^{+}'s from ^{19}Ne decays to demonstrate the broadband response of our detection system and assess potential systematic uncertainties for β spectroscopy over the full (MeV) energy range. To our knowledge, this is the first direct observation of cyclotron radiation from individual highly relativistic β's in a waveguide. This work establishes the application of CRES to a variety of nuclei, opening its reach to searches for new physics beyond the TeV scale via precision β-decay measurements.

Gross tumor volume margin and local control in p16-positive oropharynx cancer patients treated with intensity modulated proton therapy

BACKGROUND

To determine if the extent of high-dose gross tumor volume (GTV) to clinical target volume (CTV) expansion is associated with local control in patients with p16-positive oropharynx cancer (p16+ OPC) treated with definitive intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with p16+ OPC treated with IMPT at a single institution between 2016 and 2021. Patients with a pre-treatment PET-CT and restaging PET-CT within 4 months following completion of IMPT were analyzed.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were included for analysis with a median follow-up of 17 months. The median GTV to CTV expansion was 5 mm (IQR: 2 mm). Thirty-three percent of patients (20 of 60) did not have a GTV to CTV expansion. There was one local failure within the expansion group (3%).

CONCLUSION

Excellent local control was achieved using IMPT for p16+ OPC independent of GTV expansion. IMPT with minimal target expansions represent a potential harm-minimization technique for p16-positive oropharynx cancer.

Regionalization of Head and Neck Oncology Tumor Boards: Perspectives of Collaborating Physicians

Objectives

To survey academic and community physician preferences regarding the virtual multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) for further improvement and expansion.

Study Design

This anonymous 14-question survey was sent to individuals that participated in the head and neck virtual MTBs. The survey was sent via email beginning August 3, 2021, through October 5, 2021.

Setting

The University of Maryland Medical Center and regional practices in the state of Maryland.

Methods

Survey responses were recorded and presented as percentages. Subset analysis was performed to obtain frequency distributions by facility and provider type.

Results

There were 50 survey responses obtained with a response rate of 56%. Survey participants included 11 surgeons (22%), 19 radiation oncologists (38%), and 8 medical oncologists (16%), amongst others. More than 96% of participants found the virtual MTB to be useful when discussing complex cases and impactful to future patient care. A majority of respondents perceived a reduction in time to adjuvant care (64%). Community and academic physician responses strongly agreed that the virtual MTB improved communication (82% vs 73%), provided patient-specific information for cancer care (82% vs 73%), and improved access to other specialties (66% vs 64%). Academic physicians, more so than community physicians, strongly agreed that the virtual MTB improves access to clinical trial enrollment (64% vs 29%) and can be useful in obtaining CME (64% vs 55%).

Conclusion

Academic and community physicians view the virtual MTB favorably. This platform can be adapted regionally and further expanded to improve communication between physicians and improve multidisciplinary care for patients.

Human Papillomavirus Impact on Temporal Treatment Trends in Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: 2010-2016

INTRODUCTION

The study objective was to identify practice patterns in oropharyngeal cancer management from 2010 to 2016 among human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and non-HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was utilized to identify OPSCC patients from 2010 to 2016. Frequency distributions and multivariable analyses were generated to identify practice patterns and predictors of treatment modality.

RESULTS

A total of 35,956 patients with nonmetastatic OPSCC were included. HPV status was not associated with a treatment modality preference. At academic centers, the proportion of HPV-associated OPSCC patients versus non-HPV-associated OPSCC patients undergoing surgical management was similar (35.7%; 35.9%). Community cancer programs treated patients less often surgically but with no significant treatment preference based on HPV status. Within each facility type, HPV status was not a predictor of surgical or nonsurgical management.

CONCLUSION

HPV association does not appear to significantly influence treatment modality preference among OPSCC patients. The proportion of OPSCC patients undergoing surgical treatment declined from 2010 to 2016.

Enhanced neoepitope-specific immunity following neoadjuvant PD-L1 and TGF-b blockade in HPV-unrelated head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV-unrelated HNSCC) is associated with high rates of recurrence and poor survival.

METHODS

We conducted a clinical trial in 14 patients with newly diagnosed, HPV-unrelated HNSCC to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein that blocks programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and neutralizes transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-).

RESULTS

Bintrafusp alfa was well tolerated, and no treatment-associated surgical delays or complications occurred. Objective pathologic responses were observed and 12 of 14 patients (86%) were alive and disease free at one year. Alterations in regulatory T cell infiltration and spatial distribution relative to proliferating CD8 T cells indicated reversal of Treg immunosuppression in the primary tumor. Detection of neoepitope-specific tumor T cell responses, but not viral-specific responses, correlated with development of a pathologic response. Detection of neoepitope-specific responses and pathologic responses in tumors was not correlated with genomic features or tumor antigenicity but was associated with reduced pre-treatment myeloid cell tumor infiltration. These results indicate that dual PD-L1 and TGF- blockade can safely enhance tumor antigen-specific immunity and highlight the feasibility of multi-mechanism neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with HPV-unrelated HNSCC.

CONCLUSION

Our studies provide new insight into the ability of neoadjuvant immunotherapy to induce polyclonal neoadjuvant-specific T cell responses in tumors and suggest that features of the tumor microenvironment, such as myeloid cell infiltration, may be a major determinant of enhanced anti-tumor immunity following such treatment.

Comparison of efficacy and toxicity of chemoradiation regimens for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma primary treatment

BACKGROUND

The best chemoradiation regimen to treat locally and regionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is yet to be established.

METHODS

We compared overall survival (OS) and adverse events following chemoradiation regimens (high-dose [HDC] or low-dose [LDC] cisplatin, or carboplatin [CB]) in HNSCC cases selected from SEER-Medicare linked database.

RESULTS

Of the 1335 cases who underwent radiotherapy, 264 received HDC, 259 received LDC, and 353 received CB, concurrently. Compared to chemoradiation with HDC, using LDC or CB, or radiotherapy alone were associated with an increasingly worse OS; hazard ratios were 1.33, p = 0.03; 1.35, p = 0.02; and 2.12, p < 0.001; respectively. There were no differences in the rates of adverse events between the three chemoradiation regimens.

CONCLUSION

Chemoradiation regimen using HDC appears to be the best primary treatment for locally and regionally advanced HNSCC. Nonetheless, prospective large studies are warranted to further determine its absolute benefit.

The association of active and passive tobacco smoke exposure with chronic rhinosinusitis symptom severity: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

 Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) causes a great deal of morbidity. There are a multitude of causal factors, though their precise contribution to symptom severity has yet to be defined.  We hypothesized that exposure to both primary and secondhand tobacco smoke would correlate with more severe symptoms of CRS.

METHODS

This is a prospective cross-sectional study performed at an academic tertiary care medical center from 2010 to 2013. A total of 85 consecutive patients with chronic sinusitis were screened; 70 with medically refractory CRS requiring functional Endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) were enrolled. Recent tobacco exposure was assessed using serum cotinine levels. Sinonasal mucosa was biopsied to assess ciliary architecture. Demographics, medical history, tobacco and environmental exposures, and computed tomography (CT) imaging were also collected. Two quality of life (QOL) surveys were administered: one disease specific, Sinonasal Outcomes Test-20 (SNOT-20), and one general, Short Form-12 (SF-12). Results were correlated with the aforementioned exposures.

RESULTS

 The 70 patients had an average age of 46 years, and 42% were male.  Variables that correlated with worse SNOT-20 scores included serum cotinine (r = 0.43, p = 0.002), number of cigarettes smoked daily (r = 0.27, p = 0.03), and number of secondhand cigarettes exposed to per day (r = 0.29, p = 0.04). There were no significant correlations between SNOT-20 scores and Lund-MacKay or axonemal ultrastructural abnormalities (AUA)-ciliary scores. The two five-variable models best predicted disease-specific QOL.

CONCLUSIONS

 Increased amounts of serum cotinine and primary and secondhand smoke exposure were associated with worse sinonasal QOL. This study establishes an objective relationship between smoke exposure and patient-perceived severity of CRS, emphasizing the importance of tobacco cessation counseling as part of management.

Direct differentiation of tonsillar biopsy-derived stem cells to the neuronal lineage

BACKGROUND

Neurological disorders are considered one of the greatest burdens to global public health and a leading cause of death. Stem cell therapies hold great promise for the cure of neurological disorders, as stem cells can serve as cell replacement, while also secreting factors to enhance endogenous tissue regeneration. Adult human multipotent stem cells (MSCs) reside on blood vessels, and therefore can be found in many tissues throughout the body, including palatine tonsils. Several studies have reported the capacity of MSCs to differentiate into, among other cell types, the neuronal lineage. However, unlike the case with embryonic stem cells, it is unclear whether MSCs can develop into mature neurons.

METHODS

Human tonsillar MSCs (T-MSCs) were isolated from a small, 0.6-g sample, of tonsillar biopsies with high viability and yield as we recently reported. Then, these cells were differentiated by a rapid, multi-stage procedure, into committed, post-mitotic, neuron-like cells using defined conditions.

RESULTS

Here we describe for the first time the derivation and differentiation of tonsillar biopsy-derived MSCs (T-MSCs), by a rapid, multi-step protocol, into post-mitotic, neuron-like cells using defined conditions without genetic manipulation. We characterized our T-MSC-derived neuronal cells and demonstrate their robust differentiation in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Our procedure leads to a rapid neuronal lineage commitment and loss of stemness markers, as early as three days following neurogenic differentiation. Our studies identify biopsy-derived T-MSCs as a potential source for generating neuron-like cells which may have potential use for in vitro modeling of neurodegenerative diseases or cell replacement therapies.

Survival outcomes of lateral skull base tumors following temporal bone resection

BACKGROUND

Lateral skull base tumors often necessitate temporal bone resection (TBR), although clinical outcomes can be unfavorable. Factors influencing survival and recurrence after TBR for cutaneous and salivary malignancies were evaluated.

METHODS

Twenty-six TBR subjects were included. Survival and recurrence outcomes were estimated at 1, 2, and 5 years postresection. Prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

Two years postresection, the overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 61%, 74%, and 49%, respectively, and 51%, 63%, and 45% at 5 years. On univariate analysis, preoperative facial nerve dysfunction and intraoperative nerve sacrifice worsened OS, DSS, and RFS. Prior surgery and adjuvant radiation independently predicted reduced OS, DSS, and RFS on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality is highest in the first 2 years following resection. Preoperative facial nerve dysfunction, facial nerve sacrifice, and prior radiation are negative predictors of survival and recurrence.

Impact of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic on Head and Neck Cancer Care

Objective

The study aimed to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on head and neck oncologic care at a tertiary care facility.

Study Design

This was a cross-sectional study conducted between March 18, 2020, and May 20, 2020. The primary planned outcome was the rate of treatment modifications during the study period. Secondary outcome measures were tumor conference volume, operative volume, and outpatient patient procedure and clinic volumes.

Setting

This single-center study was conducted at a tertiary care academic hospital in a large metropolitan area.

Methods

The study included a consecutive sample of adult subjects who were presented at a head and neck interdepartmental tumor conference during the study period. Patients were compared to historical controls based on review of operative data, outpatient procedures, and clinic volumes.

Results

In total, 117 patients were presented during the review period in 2020, compared to 69 in 2019. There was an 8.4% treatment modification rate among cases presented at the tumor conference. There was a 61.3% (347 from 898) reduction in outpatient clinic visits and a 63.4% (84 from 230) reduction in procedural volume compared to the prior year. Similarly, the operative volume decreased by 27.0% (224 from 307) compared to the previous year.

Conclusion

Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in limited treatment modifications. Transition to virtual tumor board format observed an increase in case presentations. While there were reductions in operative volume, there was a larger proportion of surgical cases for malignancy, reflecting the prioritization of oncologic care during the pandemic.

Abstract PO-017: Evaluating the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on treatment paradigms in head and neck cancer at a tertiary care hospital

Objective: The study aimed to assess the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on head and neck oncologic care at a tertiary care hospital. The pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has led to policies designed to limit its spread. Policies including eliminating routine appointments, statewide stay-at-home orders, and restricting surgical cases to emergent surgeries have limited access to care. Therefore, we hypothesized that treatment modifications would be implemented for patients and cancer consultations would decrease compared to historical data.

Methods: Information regarding treatment modifications was collected prospectively during interdepartmental tumor conferences from March 18, 2020 to May 20, 2020. Information regarding patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and incidence of new cancer consultations was collected via chart review. Treatment modifications were categorized as follows: Elimination of Systemic Therapy, Treatment Delay, Change to Non-Surgical Management, or Alteration in Adjuvant Therapy. Rationales for modification were similarly grouped as follows: Operating Room Limitations, Medical Co-Morbidities, COVID-19 positive, Patient concern, or System limitations. We determined the rate of treatment modifications and the frequencies of rationales and modification types. Demographic and tumor characteristics were compared between this population and a retrospectively collected cohort from 2019.

Results: 117 patients were presented during the review period in 2020. There were 69 patients presented across the same time period in 2019. There were no differences in demographic characteristics between the groups. There was no difference between the tumor or nodal stages of the presented cases year over year. During the 2020 time period there were more total case presentations and new cancer cases compared to the 2019 time period. Of the 117 cases presented during the study period, there were 10/117 (8.4%) treatment modifications. The most common reason for modification was limited PPE supply. The most common modification was treatment delay. The second most common modification was change from primary surgical management to nonsurgical management. Treatment modifications occurred most commonly early in the review period and declined subsequently.

Conclusions: Despite the ongoing pandemic and resulting state and institutional restrictions, there was no appreciable reduction in new cancer consultations for head and neck cancer. There were a small number of treatment modifications, particularly early in the course of our state and institutional response to the virus. However, over the 2-month period examined, patient care for these patients remained largely unaffected. While the restriction in elective surgical care was implemented across the state of Maryland, the oncologic triage and emergency surgery prioritization sustained the volume of oncologic practice.

Citation Format: Joshua A. Thompson, Reju Joy, Joshua E. Lubek, Ranee Mehra, Jason K. Molitoris, Rodney J. Taylor, Jeffrey S. Wolf, Matthew E. Witek, Kyle M. Hatten. Evaluating the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on treatment paradigms in head and neck cancer at a tertiary care hospital [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2020 Jul 20-22. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(18_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-017.

Intraoperative Image Guidance during Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in otorhinolaryngology and is associated with a definite risk for both intraoperative and postoperative complications. Intraoperative image guidance is expected to have a major effect on procedures such as ESS by allowing the clinician to more efficiently remove pathology and by improving surgeon confidence and knowledge of anatomy, particularly in revision procedures or in patients with altered anatomy. As a consequence, complications during these pro-’ cedures will decrease and patient safety will increase. Several guidance modalities are available including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluoroscopy. This article will describe current applications of each of these three techniques with respect to ESS while focusing on innovative techniques that use MRI and CT to provide intraoperative guidance with unmatched convenience, reliability, and utility.

A Novel Device for Placement of a Secondary Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis: A Preliminary Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) for post-laryngectomy speech rehabilitation can be performed at the time of laryngectomy (primary) or at a subsequent time (secondary). Traditionally, the secondary procedure is performed using a rigid esophagoscope. Diseases like esophageal stricture, limited neck extension, and soft-tissue fibrosis can make this procedure technically challenging or impossible. We developed a novel device to perform a secondary tracheoesophageal puncture using a flexible esophagoscope.

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility of a novel device used to create a secondary TEP in post-laryngectomy cadavers.

METHODS

In this study, we performed a total laryngectomy on 3 fresh cadavers to establish the feasibility of our prototype. In each cadaver, a flexible esophagoscope was passed into the pharynx with the prototype. The prototype was passed through a working port and deployed to distend the esophagus. The puncture was visualized and a wire was passed via the newly established fistula. The device was activated, securing the wire, and then the esophagoscope and device were removed.

RESULTS

There was 100% successful deployment of the prototype device, allowing rapid creation of the puncture and security of the guide wire in each cadaver. There was no evidence of collateral mucosal injury or esophageal perforation.

CONCLUSIONS

The prototype device offers an alternative method to safely and efficiently perform a secondary TEP without the requirement of rigid esophagoscopy which can sometimes be technically impossible in this patient population.

Harvesting multipotent progenitor cells from a small sample of tonsillar biopsy for clinical applications

Background

Human adult stem cells hold the potential for the cure of numerous conditions and degenerative diseases. They possess major advantages over pluripotent stem cells as they can be derived from donors at any age, and therefore pose no ethical concerns or risk of teratoma tumor formation in vivo. Furthermore, they have a natural ability to differentiate and secrete factors that promote tissue healing without genetic manipulation. However, at present, clinical applications of adult stem cells are limited by a shortage of a reliable, standardized, and easily accessible tissue source which does not rely on specimens discarded from unrelated surgical procedures.

Method

Human tonsil-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) were isolated from a small sample of tonsillar tissue (average 0.88 cm³). Our novel procedure poses a minimal mechanical and enzymatic insult to the tissue, and therefore leads to high cell viability and yield. We characterized these MPCs and demonstrated robust multipotency in vitro. We further show that these cells can be propagated and maintained in xeno-free conditions.

Results

We have generated tonsillar biopsy-derived MPC (T-MPC) lines from multiple donors across a spectrum of age, sex, and race, and successfully expanded them in culture. We characterized them by cell surface markers, as well as in vitro expansion and differentiation potential. Our procedure provides a robust yield of tonsillar biopsy-derived T-MPCs.

Conclusions

Millions of MPCs can be harvested from a sample smaller than 1 g, which can be collected from a fully awake donor in an outpatient setting without the need for general anesthesia or hospitalization. Our study identifies tonsillar biopsy as an abundant source of adult MPCs for regenerative medicine.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-017-0619-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Optimizing care of ventilated infants by improving weighing accuracy on incubator scales

OBJECTIVES

To determine the accuracy of weighing ventilated infants on incubator scales and whether the accuracy can be improved by the addition of a ventilator tube compensator (VTC) device to counterbalance the force exerted by the ventilator tubing.

STUDY DESIGN

Body weights on integral incubator scales were compared in ventilated infants (with and without a VTC), with body weights on standalone electronic scales (true weight). Individual and series of trend weights were obtained on the infants. The method of Bland and Altman was used to assess the introduced bias.

RESULTS

The study included 60 ventilated infants; 66% of them weighed <1000 g. A total of 102 paired-weight datasets for 30 infants undergoing conventional ventilation and 30 undergoing high frequency oscillator ventilation (HFOV) supported by a SensorMedics oscillator, (with and without a VTC) were obtained. The mean differences and (95% CI for the bias) between the integral and true scale weighing methods was 60.8 g (49.1 g to 72.5 g) without and -2.8 g (-8.9 g to 3.3 g) with a VTC in HFOV infants; 41.0 g (32.1 g to 50.0 g) without and -5.1 g (-9.3 g to -0.8 g) with a VTC for conventionally ventilated infants. Differences of greater than 2% were considered clinically relevant and occurred in 93.8% without and 20.8% with a VTC in HFOV infants and 81.5% without and 27.8% with VTC in conventionally ventilated infants.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the VTC device represents a substantial improvement on the current practice for weighing ventilated infants, particularly in the extreme preterm infants where an over- or underestimated weight can have important clinical implications for treatment. A large-scale clinical trial to validate these findings is needed.

Risk factors for 30-day readmission following hypoglycemia-related emergency room and inpatient admissions

OBJECTIVE

Hypoglycemia is a serious complication of diabetes treatment. This retrospective observational study characterized hypoglycemia-related hospital emergency room (ER) and inpatient (in-pt) admissions and identified risk factors for 30-day all-cause and hypoglycemia-related readmission.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

4476 hypoglycemia-related ER and in-pt encounters with discharge dates from 1/1/2009 to 3/31/2014 were identified in a large, multicenter electronic health record database. Outcomes were 30-day all-cause ER/hospital readmission and hypoglycemia-related readmission. Multivariable logistic regression methods identified risk factors for both outcomes.

RESULTS

1095 (24.5%) encounters had ER/hospital all-cause readmission within 30 days and 158 (14.4%) of these were hypoglycemia-related. Predictors of all-cause 30-day readmission included recent exposure to a hospital/nursing home (NH)/skilled nursing facility (SNF; OR 1.985, p<0.001); age 25-34 and 35-44 (OR 2.334 and 1.996, respectively, compared with age 65-74, both p<0.001); and African-American (AA) race versus all other race categories (OR 1.427, p=0.011). Other factors positively associated with readmission include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, cardiac dysrhythmias, congestive heart disease, hypertension, and mood disorders. Predictors of readmissions attributable to hypoglycemia included recent exposure to a hospital/NH/SNF (OR 2.299, p<0.001), AA race (OR 1.722, p=0.002), age 35-44 (OR 3.484, compared with age 65-74, p<0.001), hypertension (OR 1.891, p=0.019), and delirium/dementia and other cognitive disorders (OR 1.794, p=0.038). Obesity was protective against 30-day hypoglycemia-related readmission (OR 0.505, p=0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with 30-day all-cause and hypoglycemia-related readmission among patients with diabetic hypoglycemia include recent exposure to hospital/SNF/NH, adults <45 years, AAs, and several cardiovascular and respiratory-related comorbid conditions.

Repeatability of a cold stress test to assess cold sensitization

BACKGROUND

Non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) is a syndrome in which damage to peripheral tissues occurs without the tissues freezing following exposure to low ambient temperatures.

AIMS

To assess the test-retest reliability of a cold stress test (CST) used to assess cold sensitization.

METHODS

Volunteers with no self-reported history of NFCI undertook the CST on three occasions. Thermal images were taken of the foot and hand before, immediately after and 5min after immersion of the limb in cold water for 2min. Cold sensitization was graded by the two clinicians and the lead author. Spot temperatures from the toe and finger pads were recorded.

RESULTS

There were 30 white and 19 black male participants. The ratings indicated substantial agreement [a Cohen's kappa (κ) value of 0.61-0.8] to within ± one grading category for the hands and feet of the white volunteers and the hands of the black volunteers. Limits of agreement (LoA) analysis for toe and finger pad temperatures indicated high agreement (absolute 95% LoA < 5.5°C). Test-retest reliability for the feet of the black volunteers was not supported by the gradings (κ = 0.38) and toe pad temperatures (absolute 95% LoA = 9.5°C and coefficient of variation = 11%).

CONCLUSIONS

The test-retest reliability of the CST is considered adequate for the assessment of the cold sensitization of the hands and feet of white and the hands of black healthy non-patients. The study should be repeated with patients who have suffered a NFCI.

Ex vivo antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity inducibility predicts efficacy of cetuximab

We conducted in vitro studies and a clinical trial for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) to study the relationship between FcγRIIIa polymorphisms and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In vitro, FcγRIIIa genotype was correlated with ADCC and innate cytotoxicity using natural killer (NK) cells harvested from healthy donors. In the phase II study, patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN were treated with cetuximab (500 mg/m(2) i.v. every 2 weeks) and lenalidomide (25 mg daily). FcγRIIIa genotype and ex vivo ADCC were correlated with clinical response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). In vitro, healthy donors with a FcγRIIIa 158-V allele demonstrated more effective ADCC against two colon cancer cell lines HT29 and SW480, mean cytotoxicity: FF 16.1%, VF/VV 24.3% (P = 0.015) and FF 11.7%, VF/VV 21.0% (P = 0.008), respectively. We observed a linear relationship between ADCC response and innate cytotoxicity. In the phase II trial, 40 patients received cetuximab and lenalidomide with median PFS of 7.2 weeks and OS of 16.4 weeks. Thirty-six patients had FcγRIIIa genotype: VV (2), VF (20), and FF (14), and 25 patients had sufficient NK-cell yield to perform ex vivo ADCC. FcγRIIIa genotype was not associated with any clinical outcomes. Patients mounting ex vivo ADCC response had a higher likelihood of stable disease (P = 0.01) and showed a trend toward increased PFS: 14 weeks versus 6.8 weeks, respectively (P = 0.13). Enhanced ex vivo ADCC and innate immunity responses were more predictive of clinical response than FcγRIIIa and may offer a functional assay to select patients suitable for cetuximab therapy.