Oncological and functional outcomes of transoral laser surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Surgical resection or radiotherapy (RT) are standard approaches for early-staged hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC). Transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS) seems to provide good oncological and functional results with few local complications. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcomes of TOLMS, with or without neck dissection or RT, in the treatment of HPSCC in a tertiary referral center.

Validation of "Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngectomy" (SECEL) Questionnaire for Spanish-Speaking Laryngectomized Patients.

Background: Laryngectomized patients have communicative limitations when they lose their phonatory function after surgery. The scale "Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngectomy" (SECEL) assesses the impact of total laryngectomy on quality of life related to communication. The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the SECEL from English to Spanish and to apply this first version to a group of patients to check its reliability and validity.

Voice outcomes in patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer treated with chemo-radiotherapy.

Objective: Patients with locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer (LHC) are often treated with chemo-radiotherapy to avoid total laryngectomy, although voice problems may occur even if not markedly manifest. We sought to evaluate the impact of chemoradiation on voice and quality of life.

Methods: We studied 21 patients with locally advanced LHC with tumour control at least two years after chemo-radiotherapy.

Aberrant Signaling Pathways in Sinonasal Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma.

Sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) is strongly related to occupational exposure to wood and leather dust, however, little is known on the genetic alterations involved in tumor development and progression. The aim of this study was to identify tumorigenic signaling pathways affected by gene mutations and their relation to clinical features. We applied whole exome sequencing of 120 cancer-related genes in 50 ITACs and analyzed the signaling activity of four specific pathways frequently affected by mutations.

Prognostic and Therapeutic Implications of Immune Classification by CD8 Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and PD-L1 Expression in Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is an aggressive tumor predominantly arising in the maxillary sinus and nasal cavities. Advances in imaging, surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques have reduced complications and morbidity; however, the prognosis generally remains poor, with an overall 5-year survival rate of 30-50%. As immunotherapy may be a new therapeutic option, we analyzed CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the tumor microenvironment immune type (TMIT, combining CD8 TILs and PD-L1) in a series of 57 SNSCCs.

Asymptomatic swallowing disorders may be present in individuals with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer treated with chemo-radiotherapy.

Purpose: Patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer are often treated with chemo-radiotherapy to avoid total laryngectomy. Subclinical swallowing disorders could be present in these patients even though patients do not complain of any symptoms. We sought to evaluate the impact of chemoradiation on swallowing and quality of life.

CANVAS: A New Genetic Entity in the Otorhinolaryngologist's Differential Diagnosis.

Objective: The biallelic inheritance of an expanded intronic pentamer (AAGGG) in the gene encoding replication factor C subunit 1 () has been found to be a cause of cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS). This study describes clinical and genetic features of our patients with clinical suspicion of the syndrome.

Study Design: A retrospective descriptive study from an ataxia database comprising 500 patients.

Matched-Pair Analysis of Survival in the Patients with Advanced Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Induction Chemotherapy Plus Chemo-Radiation or Total Laryngectomy.

We performed a comparative analysis between an organ-preservation protocol and surgery followed by radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx; Methods: 60 previously untreated patients who were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy in responders were compared with a control group of 60 patients treated with up-front surgery. Both groups were statistically comparable, according to the subsite, TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) stage, age, and sex; Results: Mean age was 58 years and 92% were male. No significant statistical difference was observed for overall survival (OS) (HR 0.

The presence of dysphagia in patients with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS): a subjective and objective study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dysphagia in patients with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS), characterizing this condition, both in its objective dimension and in terms of quality of life (QoL).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed in 11 patients diagnosed of CANVAS. In all patients, clinical records were reviewed and the Eating assessment tool 10 (EAT-10) was performed as screening of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Lectin-Like Transcript 1 (LLT1) Checkpoint: A Novel Independent Prognostic Factor in HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1) expression by tumor cells contributes to immune evasion, thereby emerging as a natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immunotherapeutic target. This study is the first to investigate LLT1 expression (encoded by gene) in head and neck cancers to ascertain its impact on patient prognosis. LLT1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a homogeneous cohort of human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC), and correlated with clinical data.

[Classic and new-generation commercial thickeners. Organoleptic qualities and usefulness in the diagnostic tests of dysphagia].

Introduction: thickeners are widely used in swallowing disorders, both for diagnosis and to achieve a safe and effective diet. Recently, products composed of gums have been commercialized in the Spanish market in order to improve the organoleptic and physical qualities of thickened foods. Objective: to compare thickening agents of clinical scope marketed in Spain, and to verify their organoleptic and physical characteristics, to be used in the diagnostic procedures and the feeding of patients with dysphagia.

Prognostic Significance of the Pluripotency Factors NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play major roles in tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to cancer therapy. Several CSC markers have been studied in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), including the pluripotency factors NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4; however, their clinical significance is still unclear. NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4 expression was evaluated by immunochemistry in 348 surgically-treated HNSCC, and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient outcomes.

Selective neck dissection in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with a clinically positive neck.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and outcomes of SND in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with clinically positive neck (cN+) at diagnosis.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 159 patients with SCCHN with cN+ at diagnosis, who underwent a SND with curative intent at a tertiary care academic teaching hospital in Spain. We registered patient and tumor characteristics, date and site of recurrences, together with the outcomes.

The Differential Impact of SRC Expression on the Prognosis of Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Aberrant SRC expression and activation is frequently detected in multiple cancers, and hence, targeting SRC has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Different SRC inhibitors have demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models, although they largely lack clinical efficacy as monotherapy in late-stage solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Adequate selection and stratification of patients who may respond to and benefit from anti-SRC therapies is therefore needed to guide clinical trials and treatment efficacy.

Oncological and functional outcomes of transoral laser surgery for laryngeal carcinoma.

Introduction: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) has become the standard approach for treatment of early-stage laryngeal carcinoma in most institutions due to their good oncological and functional results with few local complications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the oncological and functional results of TLM in the treatment of laryngeal tumors at our Hospital.

Materials And Methods: Patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treated from 1998 to 2013 with TLM with curative intention, and with a minimum follow-up of 24 months, were reviewed.

Alterations of p14 , p15 , and p16 Genes in Primary Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The 9p21 gene cluster, harboring growth suppressive genes p14 , p15 , and p16 , is one of the major aberration hotspots in head and neck cancers. We try to elucidate specific aberrations affecting this region, throughout methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay. Methylation of the gene was investigated by MS-MLPA in a well-characterized series of 27 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas and 20 samples of healthy mucosa.

Swallowing disorders in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a type of chronic neurodegenerative pathology with a typical movement pattern, as well as different, less studied symptoms such as dysphagia. Disease-related disorders in efficacy or safety in the process of swallowing usually lead to malnutrition, dehydration or pneumonias. The aim of this study was identifying and analyzing swallowing disorders in Parkinson's disease.

[Results of total laryngectomy as treatment for locally advanced laryngeal cancer in the organ-preservation era].

Introduction And Objectives: Total laryngectomy (TL) and postoperative radiotherapy (RT), when indicated, have proven to be effective in treating cases of locally advanced laryngeal cancer. The aim of this study was to analyse the oncological outcomes of this procedure in patients with laryngeal cancer classified T3 and T4a.

Methods: We studied 80 patients (51 T3 and 29 T4a) with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx who underwent TL between 1998 and 2006.

Establishment and characterization of an orthotopic sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma mouse model.

Background: Despite therapeutic improvements, patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) still face an unfavorable prognosis and there is great need for alternative treatments.

Methods: SCCNC4 cells, originally derived from a T2N1M0 primary and untreated sinonasal SCC, were inoculated in the maxillary sinus of immunodeficient mice. Histology, invasive behavior, and genetic features were evaluated and compared with the original primary tumor.

[Outcomes following transoral resection of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate outcomes of a minimally invasive approach, using transoral surgery (TOS) as the primary treatment for oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: We reviewed 43 previously untreated patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma, who were treated with TOS. Distribution of the primary tumor site was: tonsil (52%), soft palate (23%), base of the tongue (21%) and posterior wall (4%).

SOX2 expression in hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, and sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck display high frequencies of DNA copy number gains at chromosomal region 3q26-27. Recently SOX2 has been postulated as a driver oncogene for these amplifications; however, its role as a prognostic marker is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of SOX2 protein expression in three different sublocalizations of head and neck SCC and its possible role as prognostic marker.

Utility of MS-MLPA in DNA methylation profiling in primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay is a method that has rarely been exploited in DNA methylation profiling of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Material And Methods: Methylation of the gene was investigated by MS-MLPA in a well-characterized series of 53 LSCC and 30 samples of healthy mucosa. Aberrant promoter hypermethylation was confirmed using bisulfite pyrosequencing, and methylation-specific.

From laryngeal epithelial precursor lesions to squamous carcinoma of the larynx: the role of cell cycle proteins and β-catenin.

Novel markers to accurately predict the risk of malignant transformation in laryngeal epithelial precursor lesions (EPL) are needed. We tried to identify some molecular alterations occurring in laryngeal tumorigenesis. In this study, 60 paraffin-embedded EPL and 17 metachronous invasive carcinomas were immunostained for markers associated with proliferation (Ki67), cell cycle control (p53, p21, p16, p27, cyclin D1), and cell adhesion and invasion (laminin and β-catenin).