Immunologically active phenotype by gene expression profiling is associated with clinical benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in real-world head and neck and lung cancer patients.

Introduction: Identification of tumours harbouring an overall active immune phenotype may help for selecting patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who may benefit from immunotherapies. Our objective was to develop a reliable and stable scoring system to identify those immunologically active tumours.

Methods: Using gene expression profiles of 421 HNSCC, we developed a score to identify immunologically active tumours.

Identification of new candidate therapeutic target genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: We aimed at identifying druggable molecular alterations at the RNA level from untreated HNSCC patients, and assessing their prognostic significance.

Methods: We retrieved 96 HNSCC patients who underwent primary surgery. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to analyze a panel of 42 genes coding for major druggable proteins.

[First outpatient satisfaction questionnaire with day-surgery in a French comprehensive cancer center].

Introduction: To assess the patient's satisfaction in a day-surgery unit in oncology for a surgical diagnosis or therapeutic act.

Methods: Between October 2013 and February 2014, we conducted a satisfaction survey from the validated questionnaire COPS-D. This questionnaire analyse the patient's stages in the care system, from the preoperative consultation to the return home: 9 stages with 23 items rated 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent).

[Epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancers].

Cancers of the upper aerodigestive tracts are the fourth most common cancer in France. The main risk factors are smoking and alcohol. They do not necessarily present specific signs, making their early diagnosis difficult.

Mature cytotoxic CD56(bright)/CD16(+) natural killer cells can infiltrate lymph nodes adjacent to metastatic melanoma.

Melanomas are characterized by high metastatic potential, with regional lymph node representing the most frequent site of early dissemination in this disease. These regional lymph nodes also represent the primary site for differentiation of natural killer (NK) cells. Although blood-derived NK cells can efficiently lyse melanoma cells isolated from metastatic lymph node (M-LN), there has been no study of the properties of the most disease-relevant NK cells isolated from M-LN in patients with melanoma.

Transoral robotic-assisted free flap reconstruction after radiation therapy in hypopharyngeal carcinoma: report of two cases.

The objective was to assess the feasibility and safety of transoral robotic surgery (TORS)-assisted free flap reconstruction for hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation therapy. The study evaluated the feasibility, surgical margins, the need for a tracheotomy, a nasogastric tube as well as surgery-related complications. Two patients underwent TORS-assisted free flap reconstruction after radiation therapy.

Metallothionein expression in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma: associations with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival.

Aims: Metallothionein (MT) has been implicated in several aspects of cancer pathobiology, such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of MT expression in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods And Results: MT protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on 49 mobile tongue SCC specimens, and was analysed in relation to clinicopathological characteristics, and overall and disease-free patient survival.

Giant basal cell carcinoma with regional lymph node and distant lung metastasis.

The prevalence of metastatic basal cell carcinoma (MBCC) varies between 0.0028% and 0.55% of all cases.

RCAS1 expression in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study.

Background: The receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (RCAS1) is a human tumor-associated antigen that has been considered to play a crucial role in tumor progression by enabling cancer cells to evade immune surveillance. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of RCAS1 expression in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Material/methods: RCAS1 protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on 49 mobile tongue SCC tissue samples obtained from an equal number of patients and was statistically analyzed with clinicopathological characteristics and overall and disease-free patients' survival.

Histone deacetylase-1 and -2 expression in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma: associations with clinicopathological parameters and patients survival.

Background:  Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been associated with tumor development and progression in several types of human malignancy and HDAC inhibitors are currently being explored as anti-cancer agents in clinical trials. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of HDAC-1 and -2 protein expression in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: HDAC-1 and -2 protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on 49 mobile tongue SCC tissue samples and was analyzed in relation with clinicopathological characteristics, overall and disease-free patients' survival.

Latissimus dorsi free flap reconstruction of anterior skull base defects.

Introduction: Surgery of extensive skull base tumour results of a defect of soft and hard tissue and dura. Free flap reconstruction provides tissue to restore the defect and separate the intracranial content from the bacterial flora of the nasal fossae. Vertical and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous free flap are usually used.

Progressive upregulation of PD-1 in primary and metastatic melanomas associated with blunted TCR signaling in infiltrating T lymphocytes.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is involved in T-cell tolerance to self-antigens. For some cancers, it has been suggested that the expression of a ligand of PD-1, namely PD-L1, could contribute to tumor escape from immune destruction. Nevertheless, the relationship between PD-1 expression on tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs), disease stage, and TIL responsiveness is still poorly documented.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy or nodal observation in melanoma: a prospective study of patient choices.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the therapeutic utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus that of nodal observation (NO) in melanoma.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate a standardized counseling procedure and its effect on patient choices to undergo SLNB or NO.

Methods: In four centers, patients with melanoma eligible for SLNB or NO received a complete counseling procedure that included verbal information from dermatologists and surgeons, a detailed information sheet, and a written consent form.

Expression of DNA repair proteins, MSH2, MLH1 and MGMT in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma: associations with clinicopathological parameters and patients' survival.

Background: DNA repair is a major defense mechanism, which contributes to the maintenance of genetic sequence, minimizing cell death, mutation rates, replication errors, DNA damage persistence and genomic instability. Alterations of proteins participating in DNA repair mechanisms have been associated with several aspects of cancer biology. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of DNA repair proteins, MSH2, MLH1 and MGMT in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Prognostic significance of tumor shape and stromal chronic inflammatory infiltration in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral tongue.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue is well known to be an aggressive disease with early metastatic spread in early stage tumors. It is also established that locoregional recurrences are the main causes of treatment failure. Thus, the identification of histopathological factors possessing a predictive value remains important for the management of the disease.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma: associations with clinicopathological parameters and patients survival.

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, implicated in various aspects of cancer biology, such as differentiation, proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of PPAR-γ in mobile tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: PPAR-γ protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on 49 mobile tongue SCC tissue samples obtained from an equal number of patients.

Study of the length of hospital stay for free flap reconstruction of oral and pharyngeal cancer in the context of the new French casemix-based funding.

The French national health insurance reimbursement system has recently changed from a global hospital funding system to casemix-based funding. The authors studied the factors likely to influence the length of hospital stay for free flap reconstructions after surgery for cancers of the oral cavity or pharynx. Data concerning 207 oral cavity or pharynx free flap reconstructions were extracted from a prospective registration.

Women and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx: is there something new?

Purpose: Incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and oropharynx is increasing in French female patients. The objective of this study was to study the clinical and demographic characteristics and the prognosis of this female population. Secondary outcomes were to determine if a subgroup of patient had a different prognosis.

Two types of squamous cell carcinoma of the palatine tonsil characterized by distinct etiology, molecular features and outcome.

To determine whether human papillomaviruses (HPV) positive tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represent a specific entity, we studied the prevalence of HPV association and of tobacco/alcohol exposure in a series of 52 cases of tonsillar SCC cases. p53, p16, and pRb levels, deregulated by viral oncoproteins were assessed. Forty patients reported tobacco/alcohol exposure, 10 reported no exposure.

[Cutaneous melanoma and sentinel lymph node biopsy: where are we today?].

Malignant cutaneous melanoma is the cancer which has the most increased these last ten years. His prognose is linked with melanoma thickness, tumoral ulceration and lymph node metastasis. The research of these node metastasis is important for the prognosis and the treatment.

Experimental study of mineralization in mandibular bone distraction with irradiation during the consolidation phase.

Introduction: This study aimed at assessing the effect of radiotherapy on regenerated bone mineralization and consolidation obtained by mandibular bone distraction. The planned application was a new immediate mandibular reconstruction technique in defects following surgery for oral cavity tumours requiring postoperative radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: Ten sheep underwent bilateral mandibular bone distraction (control group).