LGR5 in breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ: a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target.

Background: Novel biomarkers are required to discern between breast tumors that should be targeted for treatment from those that would never become clinically apparent and/or life threatening for patients. Moreover, therapeutics that specifically target breast cancer (BC) cells with tumor-initiating capacity to prevent recurrence are an unmet need. We investigated the clinical importance of LGR5 in BC and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to explore LGR5 as a biomarker and a therapeutic target.

MMP9 modulates the metastatic cascade and immune landscape for breast cancer anti-metastatic therapy.

Metastasis, the main cause of cancer-related death, has traditionally been viewed as a late-occurring process during cancer progression. Using the MMTV-PyMT luminal B breast cancer model, we demonstrate that the lung metastatic niche is established early during tumorigenesis. We found that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) is an important component of the metastatic niche early in tumorigenesis and promotes circulating tumor cells to colonize the lungs.

Immune effector monocyte-neutrophil cooperation induced by the primary tumor prevents metastatic progression of breast cancer.

Metastatic behavior varies significantly among breast cancers. Mechanisms explaining why the majority of breast cancer patients never develop metastatic outgrowth are largely lacking but could underlie the development of novel immunotherapeutic target molecules. Here we show interplay between nonmetastatic primary breast cancer and innate immune response, acting together to control metastatic progression.

Higher risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with chronic otitis media.

Importance: Several sources have suggested an association between chronic sensory hearing impairment and chronic otitis media (COM). However, to our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in patients with COM (COM-positive).

Objective: To examine the risk of developing SSNHL in COM-positive patients.

Risk of head and neck cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Importance: An increasing body of evidence suggests that certain types of cancers are more common in people with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the risk of head and neck cancer (HNC) in patients with DM has seldom been explored.

Objective: To examine the risk of HNC in patients with DM.

Effect of metformin on the incidence of head and neck cancer in diabetics.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of metformin on head and neck cancer in patients with diabetes.

Methods: We compared 66,600 patients, all with diabetes and all newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2002. Half were being treated with metformin for diabetes (Met(+) ) and half were not (Met(-) : controls).

Galectin-1 overexpression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: effect on survival.

Conclusions: Galectin-1 overexpression is significantly correlated with the survival rate of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Immunohistochemical analysis of galectin-1 expression might be useful for identifying patients with a high risk of distant metastasis and for prompting timely adjuvant systemic therapy for patients with aggressive NPC.

Objectives: We examined the effect of galectin-1 on the survival rate of patients with NPC.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is correlated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Previous studies have indicated that hypercholesterolemia and a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors are associated with the development of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that SSHL is a risk factor for the development of myocardial infarction (MI).

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the risk of developing of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: A population-based, retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was conducted. From 2001 to 2006, 9121 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and 45,605 comparison subjects without NPC were selected.

Cancer survival in patients with HIV/AIDS in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives: HIV-related immunosuppression has been associated with the development of AIDS-defining malignancies. We examined the overall survival of HIV-infected patients who developed cancer.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Risk of second primary malignancies after nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of second primary malignancy (SPM) after nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: We compared the incidence of SPM in patients diagnosed with NPC at the end of 2009 using the data extracted from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database between 2001 and 2008 (n = 10,299), with age-matched controls (1:10; n = 102,990).

Results: We found a 55% increased risk of SPM in patients diagnosed with NPC, compared to the risk of first malignancy in the age-matched controls (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.

Increased risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with human immunodeficiency virus aged 18 to 35 years: a population-based cohort study.

Importance: No case series or cohort studies to date in the English literature have evaluated sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Objective: To investigate the risk of developing SSHL in patients with HIV.

Design And Setting: Retrospective cohort population-based study using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based cohort study.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) may be a manifestation of systemic vascular involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may have an important impact on the health of patients with SLE. To investigate the risk of developing SSHL in patients with SLE, we conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 7168 patients diagnosed with SLE and 35840 control subjects without SLE were selected from claims made from 2001 to 2006.

Increased risk of getting sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with chronic kidney disease: a population-based cohort study.

Objectives/hypothesis: To examine the risk of getting Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Population-based representative insurance claims data were used to examine the risk of getting SSHL among patients with chronic kidney disease.