Utility of bioselection with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for organ preservation in patients with T4 laryngeal cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for induction selection of definitive treatment (IS) protocols have shown excellent outcomes for organ preservation and survival in patients with T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We seek to evaluate survival and organ preservation outcomes in T4 LSCC patients treated with IS protocols.

Methods: Retrospective cohort of advanced T3 and T4 LSCC patients who underwent IS protocols based upon potential for preserving a functional larynx.

Phase II Clinical Trial of Intravenous Levothyroxine to Mitigate Pharyngocutaneous Fistula in Euthyroid Patients Undergoing Salvage Laryngectomy.

Purpose: Patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery after prior radiation or chemoradiation are at high risk for wound complications. Hypothyroidism is a known risk factor for wound complications, especially fistulae after salvage total laryngectomy. The purpose of this phase II clinical trial is to investigate the effect of perioperative intravenous levothyroxine supplementation on wound complications in patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy.

Upfront Neck Dissection for Treatment Selection and Improvement in Quality of Life as a Novel Treatment Paradigm for Deintensification in HPV+ OPSCC.

Purpose: Locoregionally advanced HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has excellent cure rates, although current treatment regimens are accompanied by acute and long-term toxicities. We designed a phase II deescalation trial for patients with HPV+ OPSCC to evaluate the feasibility of an upfront neck dissection to individualize definitive treatment selection to improve the quality of life without compromising survival.

Patients And Methods: Patients with T1-3, N0-2 HPV+ OPSCC underwent an upfront neck dissection with primary tumor biopsy.

Salivary microbiome changes distinguish response to chemoradiotherapy in patients with oral cancer.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is associated with oral microbial dysbiosis. In this unique study, we compared pre- to post-treatment salivary microbiome in patients with SCC by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and examined how microbiome changes correlated with the expression of an anti-microbial protein.

Results: Treatment of SCC was associated with a reduction in overall bacterial richness and diversity.

Assessing Quality of Life among Radiation-Induced Hypopituitary Patients.

 Radiation-induced hypopituitarism (RIH) has long been recognized as one of the deleterious side effects of skull base radiation. This study aims to assess the quality of life (QoL) among patients with RIH compared with radiated patients who did not develop hypopituitarism using the validated Anterior Skull Base Questionnaire (ASBQ).  This was a single-institution retrospective cohort study.

Lymph node level ratio as a predictor of survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate whether nodal yields and ratios based on level serves as prognostic indicators in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma undergoing neck dissection.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 342 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma treated surgically between 1998 and 2017 were included.Demographics and clinicopathologic data were collated.

Comparing Individualized Survival Predictions From Random Survival Forests and Multistate Models in the Presence of Missing Data: A Case Study of Patients With Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Background: In recent years, interest in prognostic calculators for predicting patient health outcomes has grown with the popularity of personalized medicine. These calculators, which can inform treatment decisions, employ many different methods, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Methods: We present a comparison of a multistate model (MSM) and a random survival forest (RSF) through a case study of prognostic predictions for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Vestibular Schwannoma Management: A Single Institution Review.

Objective: To evaluate social determinants of health and their effect on the management of vestibular schwannoma (VS).

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Increased Nerve Density Adversely Affects Outcome in Oral Cancer.

Purpose: Perineural invasion (PNI) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with poor survival. Because of the risk of recurrence, patients with PNI receive additional therapies after surgical resection. Mechanistic studies have shown that nerves in the tumor microenvironment promote aggressive tumor growth.

Neurotization of the radial forearm free flap improves swallowing outcomes in hemiglossectomy defects.

Background: We examined the effect of free tissue neurotization on speech and swallowing outcomes for patients undergoing reconstruction of hemiglossectomy defects with a radial forearm free flap (RFFF).

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma undergoing a hemiglossectomy and reconstruction with a RFFF. Functional outcomes including nutritional mode, range of liquids and solids, and speech understandability were analyzed 1-year post-treatment.

Erratum: Antibiotic Use in Lateral Skull Base Surgery: A Survey of the North American Skull Base Society.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722642.].

Retrospective Review of Surgical Site Infections after Endoscopic Endonasal Sellar and Parasellar Surgery: Multicenter Quality Data from the North American Skull Base Society.

 Transnasal access to the anterior skull base provides a minimally invasive approach for sellar and parasellar masses compared with its open counterparts. The unique microbiome of the sinonasal mucosa provides distinct challenges not encountered with other cranial approaches. The use of antibiotics in these cases has not been standardized, and data remain scarce regarding infectious outcomes.

Prognostic value of CD103 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) combined positive score in recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: In an evolving era of immunotherapeutic options for persistent or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), there is a need for improved biomarkers of treatment response and survival to inform optimal treatment selection and prognostication. Herein, our primary objective was to explore correlations between tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-L1 Combined Positive Score (CPS). Secondarily, we sought to explore their combined association with survival outcomes in patients with persistent or recurrent LSCC treated with salvage surgery.

Surgical Management of Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses: Analysis of Operative Indications, Settings, and Outcomes.

 The role of surgery in management of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma (SNRMS) has traditionally been limited, owing to anatomic and technological challenges and the established role of systemic therapy. Herein, we report our institutional experience with surgical management of SNRMS, with a particular focus on operative approaches, extent and outcomes.  This study is a retrospective cohort study.

Spatial and Transcriptomic Analysis of Perineural Invasion in Oral Cancer.

Purpose: Perineural invasion (PNI), a common occurrence in oral squamous cell carcinomas, is associated with poor survival. Consequently, these tumors are treated aggressively. However, diagnostic criteria of PNI vary and its role as an independent predictor of prognosis has not been established.

Impact of Nodal Metastases in HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Background: The updated American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition staging manual restructured nodal classification and staging by placing less prognostic emphasis on nodal metastases for human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). However, there was no change for HPV-negative OPSCC. The purpose of our study is to examine the impact of nodal metastases on survival in HPV-negative OPSCC.

The association between inflammatory biomarkers and statin use among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and cytokines are associated with prognosis among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) may improve HNSCC prognosis, particularly in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cases, but the mechanism remains unclear.

Methods: Statin use was collected from medical records for HNSCC cases (2008-2014).

Galanin mediates tumor-induced immunosuppression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Galanin receptor 2 (GALR2) plays a significant role in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Since there is virtually no information on immunomodulation mediated by its ligand in the tumor microenvironment, we assessed the effects of galanin on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Methods: After verification of GALR2 expression and it activity in PBMCs we evaluated the effect of galanin and conditioned media from HNSCC cell lines silenced for galanin or antibody-depleted, on proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine expression and activation/differentiation of immune cells.

Cancer-specific type-I interferon receptor signaling promotes cancer stemness and effector CD8+ T-cell exhaustion.

Type-I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is critical to maintaining antigen-presenting cell function for anti-tumor immunity. However, recent studies have suggested that IFN-I signaling may also contribute to more aggressive phenotypes, raising the possibility that IFN-I downstream signaling in cancer and myeloid cells may exert dichotomous functions.We analyzed the clinicopathologic correlation of cancer-specific IFN-I activation in 195 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients.

The IL-6R and Bmi-1 axis controls self-renewal and chemoresistance of head and neck cancer stem cells.

Despite major progress in elucidating the pathobiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the high frequency of disease relapse correlates with unacceptably deficient patient survival. We previously showed that cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) drive tumorigenesis and progression of HNSCC. Although CSCs constitute only 2-5% of total tumor cells, CSCs contribute to tumor progression by virtue of their high tumorigenic potential and their resistance to chemo-, radio-, and immunotherapy.