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Al Hasan MM, Ghazimoghadam S, Tunlayadechanont P, Mostafiz MT, Gupta M, Roy A, Peters K, Hochhegger B, Mancuso A, Asadizanjani N, Forghani R. Automated Segmentation of Lymph Nodes on Neck CT Scans Using Deep Learning. JOURNAL OF IMAGING INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE 2024:10.1007/s10278-024-01114-w. [PMID: 38937342 DOI: 10.1007/s10278-024-01114-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Early and accurate detection of cervical lymph nodes is essential for the optimal management and staging of patients with head and neck malignancies. Pilot studies have demonstrated the potential for radiomic and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches in increasing diagnostic accuracy for the detection and classification of lymph nodes, but implementation of many of these approaches in real-world clinical settings would necessitate an automated lymph node segmentation pipeline as a first step. In this study, we aim to develop a non-invasive deep learning (DL) algorithm for detecting and automatically segmenting cervical lymph nodes in 25,119 CT slices from 221 normal neck contrast-enhanced CT scans from patients without head and neck cancer. We focused on the most challenging task of segmentation of small lymph nodes, evaluated multiple architectures, and employed U-Net and our adapted spatial context network to detect and segment small lymph nodes measuring 5-10 mm. The developed algorithm achieved a Dice score of 0.8084, indicating its effectiveness in detecting and segmenting cervical lymph nodes despite their small size. A segmentation framework successful in this task could represent an essential initial block for future algorithms aiming to evaluate small objects such as lymph nodes in different body parts, including small lymph nodes looking normal to the naked human eye but harboring early nodal metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahfuz Al Hasan
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Saba Ghazimoghadam
- Augmented Intelligence and Precision Health Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Padcha Tunlayadechanont
- Augmented Intelligence and Precision Health Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiology and Research, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mohammed Tahsin Mostafiz
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Manas Gupta
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
| | - Antika Roy
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Keith Peters
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bruno Hochhegger
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Anthony Mancuso
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Navid Asadizanjani
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Reza Forghani
- Radiomics and Augmented Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL), Department of Radiology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0374, USA.
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Division of Medical Physics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Division of Movement Disorders, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Augmented Intelligence and Precision Health Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Gauss C, Stone LD, Ghafouri M, Quan D, Johnson J, Fribley AM, Amm HM. Overcoming Resistance to Standard-of-Care Therapies for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cells 2024; 13:1018. [PMID: 38920648 PMCID: PMC11201455 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Although there have been some advances during in recent decades, the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains challenging. Resistance is a major issue for various treatments that are used, including both the conventional standards of care (radiotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy) and the newer EGFR and checkpoint inhibitors. In fact, all the non-surgical treatments currently used for HNSCC are associated with intrinsic and/or acquired resistance. Herein, we explore the cellular mechanisms of resistance reported in HNSCC, including those related to epigenetic factors, DNA repair defects, and several signaling pathways. This article discusses these mechanisms and possible approaches that can be used to target different pathways to sensitize HNSCC to the existing treatments, obtain better responses to new agents, and ultimately improve the patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chester Gauss
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (C.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Logan D. Stone
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Mehrnoosh Ghafouri
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (C.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Daniel Quan
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (D.Q.)
| | - Jared Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (D.Q.)
| | - Andrew M. Fribley
- Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (C.G.); (M.G.)
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (D.Q.)
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Hope M. Amm
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
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Kim DK. Exploring the Link between Head and Neck Cancer and the Elevated Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction: A National Population-Based Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1930. [PMID: 38792008 PMCID: PMC11119621 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhanced screening protocols for cancer detection have increased survival in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), which highlights the need to address the sequelae of therapy-induced cardiovascular complications. This study was conducted to assess the incidence and risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with HNC who have not undergone radiation or chemotherapy using a comprehensive, population-based cohort dataset. A total of 2976 individuals without cancer and 744 individuals with HNC were matched using the propensity score method. The findings indicated that the occurrence rates of AMI were comparable between the HNC (2.19) and non-cancer groups (2.39). Cox regression analysis did not demonstrate a significant increase in the risk of AMI in patients with HNC (hazard ratio: 0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.50-1.73). No increased risk of AMI was observed in the HNC group compared to the non-cancer group, regardless of the time since the HNC diagnosis. Subgroup analyses showed no notable differences in the AMI risk between the groups when considering sex, age, comorbidities, and cancer type. This study showed that patients with HNC who have not been treated with radiation or chemotherapy did not exhibit an increased incidence or risk of AMI compared to individuals without cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon 24253, Republic of Korea; ; Tel.: +82-33-240-5180; Fax: +82-33-241-2909
- Institute of New Frontier Research, Division of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon 24253, Republic of Korea
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Wu C, Yan X, Xie F, Lai X, Wang L, Jiang Y. Development of a nomogram for predicting pharyngocutaneous fistula based on skeletal muscle mass and systemic inflammation indices. Head Neck 2024; 46:571-580. [PMID: 38124665 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers often require surgical treatment, which can lead to the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF). Our research aimed to assess the predictive value of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and systemic inflammation indices for PCF and construct a clinically effective nomogram. METHODS A nested case-control study of 244 patients matched from 1171 patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer was conducted. SMM was measured at the third cervical level based on CT scans. A PCF nomogram was developed based on the univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Glucose, white blood cell count, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and skeletal muscle index were independent risk factors for PCF. The area under the curve for the PCF nomogram was 0.841 (95% CI 0.786-0.897). The calibration and decision curves indicated that the nomogram was well-calibrated with good clinical utility. CONCLUSIONS The nomogram we constructed may help clinicians predict PCF risk early in the postoperative period, pending external validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xudong Yan
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Feng Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaolong Lai
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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Wu C, Yu L, Wang L, Yan X, Li S, Wen J, Jiang Y. Association of Complication Rates and Intensive Care Unit Use With Sinonasal and Skull Base Malignancies: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. EAR, NOSE & THROAT JOURNAL 2023:1455613231215195. [PMID: 38031430 DOI: 10.1177/01455613231215195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Patients with sinonasal and skull base malignancies experience many types of complications after surgery. The intensive care unit (ICU) provides a high level of care for these patients; however, the effect of ICU care on complication rates remains unclear. Methods: Between November 2014 and November 2022, we retrospectively analyzed 151 patients with sinonasal and skull base malignancies. Fifty-six of these patients were admitted to the ICU and 95 were admitted to the non-ICU after surgery. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. The complication rates of the ICU and non-ICU groups were compared. Results: Before PSM, the complication rate was 28.5%. Patients admitted to the ICU had a higher incidence of medical complications (P = .032). Orbital injury (n = 9) and diplopia or visual changes (n = 9) were the most common surgical complications, whereas respiratory tract infections (n = 7) were the most common medical complications. After PSM, the incidences of surgical, medical, and all complications in the ICU and non-ICU groups were 23.8% and 19.0% (P = .791), 16.7% and 9.5% (P = .520), and 38.1% and 26.2% (P = .350), respectively. Conclusions: This preliminary study revealed that ICU admission did not reduce the complication rate of patients with sinonasal and skull base malignancies. Further studies are required to validate these findings and clarify the potential role of the ICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Longgang Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xudong Yan
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shunke Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Junfeng Wen
- Department of Operating Room, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Yu YY, Lin YT, Chuang HC, Chien CY, Huang TL, Fang FM, Tsai YT, Lu H, Tsai MH. Prognostic utility of neutrophil-to-albumin ratio in surgically treated oral squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 2023; 45:2839-2850. [PMID: 37698535 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS A total of 622 patients with surgically treated OSCC were enrolled. NAR was defined as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the serum albumin level in peripheral blood before the radical surgery. Cox proportional hazards model were used to discover survival outcome-associated factors. RESULTS The optimal cut-off of NAR to predict overall survival (OS) was determined to be 0.1. In Cox model, high NAR was identified as an independent negative prognosticator of OS, cancer-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.503, 1.958, and 1.727, respectively; all p < 0.05). The NAR-based nomogram accurately predicted OS (concordance index: 0.750). CONCLUSION Our study suggests that preoperative NAR is a convenient and effective prognostic marker for OSCC and NAR-based nomogram can be a promising prognostic tool in clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Yun Yu
- Department of Education, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tsai Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Kaohsiung Chang Gung Head and Neck Oncology Group, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ching Chuang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Kaohsiung Chang Gung Head and Neck Oncology Group, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yen Chien
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Kaohsiung Chang Gung Head and Neck Oncology Group, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Lin Huang
- Kaohsiung Chang Gung Head and Neck Oncology Group, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Min Fang
- Kaohsiung Chang Gung Head and Neck Oncology Group, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Te Tsai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Puzi, Taiwan
| | - Hui Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Kaohsiung Chang Gung Head and Neck Oncology Group, Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Tang H, Zhao J, Liu J. Comprehensive analysis of the expression of the IGF2BPs gene family in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Association with prognostic value and tumor immunity. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20659. [PMID: 37842569 PMCID: PMC10568114 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a predominant type of cancer found in the head and neck region, characterized by a high incidence and unfavorable prognosis. The IGF2BPs gene family, which belongs to the RNA-binding protein class, has been critically implicated in several cancers, and its involvement in HNSCC necessitates further exploration. Objective To explore the clinical significance and potential biological functions of the IGF2BPs gene family in HNSCC. Methods A bioinformatic methodology was employed to examine the expression profile, diagnostic and prognostic significance, and biological mechanisms of the IGF2BPs gene family in HNSCC, with a particular emphasis on its involvement in the immune function of HNSCC. This was followed by in vitro investigations to unravel the biological roles of the IGF2BPs gene family in HNSCC. Results This investigation has demonstrated that, in contrast with normal control tissue, HNSCC has a substantial elevation in the expression level of the IGF2BPs gene family. Patients with a high level of IGF2BPs gene family expression demonstrated higher prediction accuracy for HNSCC. Furthermore, patients with HNSCC and elevated IGF2BPs gene family expression levels exhibited poor survival outcomes. The IGF2BPs gene family displayed a significant association with a variety of immune infiltrating cells and immune genes in HNSCC. Studies conducted in vitro have confirmed that IGF2BP2 silencing suppressed the migration, proliferation, and invasion of HNSCC cells. Conclusions It has been determined that the IGF2BPs gene family plays a crucial part in the onset and progression of HNSCC, and its association with tumor immunity has been established. The IGF2BPs gene family holds promising potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Tang
- Shenzhen Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518001, China
| | - Jianjiang Zhao
- Shenzhen Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518001, China
| | - Jingpeng Liu
- Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
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Cierpikowski P, Leszczyszyn A, Bar J. The Role of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells 2023; 12:2083. [PMID: 37626893 PMCID: PMC10453169 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading malignancy worldwide, with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Molecularly targeted therapies for HNSCC are still lacking. However, recent reports provide novel insights about many molecular alterations in HNSCC that may be useful in future therapies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers that may provide a better prediction of the disease and promising targets for personalized therapy. The poor response of HNSCC to therapy is attributed to a small population of tumor cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Growing evidence indicates that the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of head and neck tissues. The HH pathway is normally involved in embryogenesis, stem cell renewal, and tissue regeneration. However, abnormal activation of the HH pathway is also associated with carcinogenesis and CSC regulation. Overactivation of the HH pathway was observed in several tumors, including basal cell carcinoma, that are successfully treated with HH inhibitors. However, clinical studies about HH pathways in HNSCC are still rare. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and recent advances regarding the HH pathway in HNSCC and discuss its possible implications for prognosis and future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Cierpikowski
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital, Osiedle Zlotej Jesieni 1, 31-826 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Leszczyszyn
- Dental Surgery Outpatient Clinic, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Julia Bar
- Department of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Bujwida 44, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland
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Abstract
Head and neck cancers are a heterogeneous group of highly aggressive tumors and collectively represent the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Current multimodal treatment concepts combine surgery, chemotherapy, irradiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapeutics. Recent scientific advancements have enabled a more precise molecular characterization of HNSCC and revealed novel therapeutic targets and prognostic/predictive biomarkers. Notably, HNSCC is characterized by complex relations between stromal, epithelial, and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME consists of different subsets of immune cells that infiltrate the tumors and interact with the tumor cells or with each other. Understanding multiple pivotal factors in HNSCC tumorigenesis and tumor progression may help define novel targets and develop more effective therapies for patients. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the molecular biology of HNSCC and their effects on clinical oncology; it is meant for a broad readership in the head and neck cancers field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramanya Pandruvada
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
| | - Remi Kessler
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Ann Thai
- Department of Oral Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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Jiang W, Li Y, Li R, Chen W, Song M, Zhang Q, Chen S. The Prognostic Significance of FOXD1 Expression in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13030530. [PMID: 36983712 PMCID: PMC10053205 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13030530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that forkhead box D1 (FOXD1) plays an established role in human early embryonic development and is broadly involved in various malignancies. However, there is limited information regarding FOXD1 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This present study aimed to explore the clinical significance of FOXD1 in patients with HNSCC. Tissue microarrays of 334 primary HNSCC patients who underwent surgery between 2008 and 2010 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were investigated by immunohistochemistry regarding FOXD1 expression. χ2 test was used to estimate the relationship of FOXD1 expression with clinicopathologic characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify FOXD1 expression as an independent prognostic indicator of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). FOXD1 expression is closely associated with postoperative recurrence. HNSCC patients with high FOXD1 expression have poorer prognoses than the low-expression group (p < 0.05). According to multivariate analysis, FOXD1 was an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS. The results revealed that FOXD1 could be a prognostic factor for HNSCC and might serve as a potential target for novel therapies.
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von Bernuth A, Ribbat-Idel J, Klapper L, Jagomast T, Rades D, Leichtle A, Pries R, Bruchhage KL, Perner S, Offermann A, Sailer V, Idel C. TRIM21 Expression as a Prognostic Biomarker for Progression-Free Survival in HNSCC. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065140. [PMID: 36982215 PMCID: PMC10048917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) continue to have a rather poor prognosis. Treatment-related comorbidities have negative impacts on their quality of life. TRIM21 is a cytosolic E3 ubiquitin ligase that was initially described as an autoantigen in autoimmune diseases and later associated with the intracellular antiviral response. Here, we investigated the role of TRIM21 as a biomarker candidate for HNSCC in predicting tumor progression and patient survival. We analyzed TRIM21 expression and its association with clinical-pathological parameters in our HNSCC cohort using immunohistochemistry. Our HNSCC cohort included samples from 419 patients consisting of primary tumors (n = 337), lymph node metastases (n = 156), recurrent tumors (n = 54) and distant metastases (n = 16). We found that cytoplasmic TRIM21 expression was associated with the infiltration of immune cells into primary tumors. In addition, TRIM21 expression was significantly higher in primary tumors than in lymph node metastases, and increased TRIM21 expression was correlated with shorter progression-free survival in HNSCC patients. These results suggest that TRIM21 could be a new biomarker for progression-free survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie von Bernuth
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Julika Ribbat-Idel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Luise Klapper
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Tobias Jagomast
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Dirk Rades
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Anke Leichtle
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Ralph Pries
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Karl-Ludwig Bruchhage
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Sven Perner
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
- Pathology, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Parkallee 1-40, 23845 Borstel, Germany
- Institute of Hematopathology & Medical Care Center Hanse Histologikum, Fangdieckstr. 75a, 22547 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Offermann
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Verena Sailer
- Institute of Pathology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Christian Idel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Luebeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
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