A pilot study of neoadjuvant combination of anti-PD-1 camrelizumab and VEGFR2 inhibitor apatinib for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Novel neoadjuvant therapy regimens are warranted for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this phase I trial (NCT04393506), 20 patients with locally advanced resectable OSCC receive three cycles of camrelizumab (200 mg, q2w) and apatinib (250 mg, once daily) before surgery. The primary endpoints are safety and major pathological response (MPR, defined as ≤10% residual viable tumour cells).

Mechanism of sensitivity to cisplatin, docetaxel, and 5-fluorouracil chemoagents and potential erbB2 alternatives in oral cancer with growth differentiation factor 15 overexpression.

The aim of this study was to: (a) explore the potential mechanism of cancer cell sensitivity to cisplatin, docetaxel, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients overexpressing growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15); and (b) identify potential alternative agents for patients who might not benefit from inductive TPF chemotherapy. The results indicated that OSCC cells overexpressing GDF15 were sensitive to TPF through a caspase-9-dependent pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry revealed that the erbB2 protein was a potential GDF15-binding protein, which was verified by coimmunoprecipitation.

Targeting ERK combined with apatinib may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Apatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets VEGFR2 signaling and shows potent antitumor effects in various cancers. In this study, we explored the efficacy of apatinib against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The relationships between VEGFR2 protein expression and clinical variables were investigated in OSCC patients.

Overcoming chemotherapy resistance using pH-sensitive hollow MnO nanoshells that target the hypoxic tumor microenvironment of metastasized oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Smart nanoscale drug delivery systems that target acidic tumor microenvironments (TME) could offer controlled release of drugs and modulate the hypoxic TME to enhance cancer therapy. The majority of previously reported MnO nanostructures are nanoparticles, nanosheets, or nanocomposites incorporated with other types of nanoparticles, which may not offer the most effective method for drug loading or for the controlled release of therapeutic payloads. Previous studies have designed MnO nanoshells that achieve tumor-specific and enhanced combination therapy for localized advanced cancer.

A therapeutic approach with combination of interferon-gamma and autophagy inhibitor for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Former clinical trials and experimental research have indicated that Interferon-gamma therapy does not achieve an ideal effect in solid tumors. Autophagy has been associated with tumor chemoresistance. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of Interferon-gamma and autophagy inhibitor in the combination treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Anti-tumor effect of carrimycin on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose: Carrimycin is a newly synthesized macrolide antibiotic with good antibacterial effect. Exploratory experiments found its function in regulating cell physiology, proliferation and immunity, suggesting its potential anti-tumor capacity. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-tumor effect of carrimycin against human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor of the temporomandibular joint with skull base invasion: a report of 22 cases with literature review.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment, and prognosis of patients with diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumor (D-TGCT) involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the skull base.

Study Design: A retrospective study was performed in patients with D-TGCT involving the TMJ and the skull base at our institute from April 2009 to August 2018. Data on clinical characteristics, surgical treatment, and prognosis were collected and analyzed.

Cyclin D1 overexpression enhances chemosensitivity to TPF chemotherapeutic agents via the caspase-3 pathway in oral cancer.

Induction chemotherapy has been previously demonstrated to downgrade locally advanced or aggressive cancers and increase the likelihood of primary lesion eradication. Based on our previous phase 3 trial on TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil) induction chemotherapy in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), in which short-term prognostic and predictive values of cyclin D1 expression were reported, the present study aimed to determine the long-term predictive value of cyclin D1 expression in the same patients with OSCC who were eligible to receive TPF induction chemotherapy. In addition, the present study investigated the potential association between cyclin D1 expression and chemosensitivity to TPF agents during OSCC cell intervention, and the underlying apoptotic mechanism of action.

Stathmin guides personalized therapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The survival benefit from docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) induction chemotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients is not satisfactory. Previously, we identified that stathmin, a microtubule-destabilizing protein, is overexpressed in OSCC. Here, we further investigated its role as a biomarker that impacts on OSCC chemosensitivity.

Normal BMI predicts the survival benefits of inductive docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background & Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the body mass index (BMI), as well as the association with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) induction chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 253 patients with locally advanced OSCC between 2008 and 2010 based on our previous prospective, randomized, phase 3 trial (NCT01542931). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models, and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for survival analyses.

[The effect and mechanism of ANXA1 on TPF chemosensitivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of ANXA1 in TPF chemotherapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: ANXA1 overexpression and low-expression cell lines were constructed. The role of ANXA1 in TPF chemotherapy was analyzed by cell proliferation, cytotoxicity test, real-time PCR and Western blot, and the mechanism of ANXA1 in TPF chemotherapy through EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) pathway was discussed.

MicroRNA-126 Regulates Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion in Human Gingival Fibroblasts Under High Glucose via Targeting Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Factor 6.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRs) play a crucial role in inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis. Meanwhile, miRs act as biomarkers for predicting diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the regulatory mechanism of miR-126 on development of periodontitis in patients with DM still remains unclear.

Mutant GDF15 presents a poor prognostic outcome for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate the mutation status of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), as well as the prognostic value of missense GDF15 mutations.

Patients And Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from 46 OSCC patients were involved in this study. GDF15 and TP53 mutations were sequenced using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine, GDF15 protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry.

The negative feedback regulation of microRNA-146a in human periodontal ligament cells after Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide stimulation.

Objective: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) pathway has been demonstrated to play an important role in periodontitis. However, the regulatory mechanism of microRNAs (miRNAs) on TLRs pathway is still unclear. Hence, this study is to explore the function of miRNA-146a in inflammatory reaction induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs).

Enhanced anticancer activity of a protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor on chemotherapy and radiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The aim of this study is to eliminate more cancer cells by promoting them from quiescence into cell cycle or by changing their molecular events, leading them to be sensitive to radiation or chemotherapy. Protein phosphatase 2A plays an important role in many cellular functions and regulates various biological processes. It is unclear that LB1, which is an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A, has enhanced anticancer activity on chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-fluorourcil) and radiation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Low Annexin A1 expression predicts benefit from induction chemotherapy in oral cancer patients with moderate or poor pathologic differentiation grade.

Background: The benefit of induction chemotherapy in locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains to be clearly defined. Induction chemotherapy is likely to be effective for biologically distinct subgroups of patients and biomarker development might lead to identification of the patients whose tumors are to respond to a particular treatment. Annexin A1 may serve as a biomarker for responsiveness to induction chemotherapy.

Elevated level of serum growth differentiation factor 15 is associated with oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Although molecular mechanism of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not clear, the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum GDF15 detection has been noticed. However, serum GDF15 levels in patients with oral leukoplakia and GDF15 as a potential predictive biomarker for response to induction chemotherapy in patients with OSCC have not been reported.

Methods: Pretreatment serum GDF15 concentration was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 healthy persons, 24 patients with oral leukoplakia, and 60 patients with OSCC.

Elevated cyclin D1 expression is predictive for a benefit from TPF induction chemotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with advanced nodal disease.

Induction chemotherapy is likely to be effective for biologically distinct subgroups of patients with cancer with biomarker detection. To investigate the prognostic and predictive values of cyclin D1 expression in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) who were treated in a prospective, randomized, phase III trial evaluating standard treatment with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy preceded or not by induction docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF), immunohistochemical staining for cyclin D1 was conducted in pretreatment biopsy specimens of 232 out of 256 clinical stage III/IVA OSCC patients randomized to the clinical trial. Cyclin D1 index was estimated as the proportion of tumor cells with cyclin D1 nuclear staining.

Annexin A1 down-regulation in oral squamous cell carcinoma correlates to pathological differentiation grade.

Objectives: Functional role of Annexin A1 in tumorigenesis is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Annexin A1 protein expression and pathological differentiation grade in biopsy samples from a large cohort of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); and to evaluate the potential role of Annexin A1 on cell proliferation and tumorigenesis of OSCC.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the relationship between Annexin A1 expression by immunohistochemical staining and pathological differentiation grade of biopsy samples from 232 OSCC patients, and the relationship between Annexin A1 expression and cell proliferation as well as tumor formation using both in vitro and in vivo OSCC models.

[Effect of orofacial inflammatory pain on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in trigeminal caudal nucleus of rats].

Objective: To evaluate the potential role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the orofacial inflammatory pain.

Methods: SD rats received subcutaneous injection of 2.5% formalin 50 µl in the left vibrissa pad to establish the inflammatory pain model.