Oropharyngeal tumor cells induce COX-2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes by secretion of IL-1α.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPC) accounts for 3% of all cancers and greater than 1.5% of all cancer deaths in the United States, with marked treatment-associated morbidity in survivors. More than 80% of OPC is caused by HPV16.

Phase I trial of dose-escalated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) boost for unfavorable locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer.

Background And Purpose: Patients with locally advanced oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma have suboptimal outcomes with standard chemoradiation. Here, we evaluated toxicity and oncologic outcomes of dose escalation using radiosurgical boost for patients with unfavorable oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Between 2010-2017, Thirty four patients with intermediate- or high-risk oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled onto this prospective phase I trial.

Schwannoma-Like Pleomorphic Adenoma: Two Cases and a Review of the Literature.

Schwannoma-like pleomorphic adenoma is a rare variant of the common benign salivary neoplasm, pleomorphic adenoma. This entity's cytomorphology closely mimics a schwannoma, potentially making a diagnosis of cytologic preparations or of surgical specimens a challenge. To the best of our knowledge, there are only six previous reports of schwannoma-like pleomorphic adenoma with eight total cases in the English language literature prior to the addition of the two cases detailed in this report.

Predictive Factors for Preoperative Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement: Novel Screening Tools for Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Objective: The treatment of head and neck cancer has varying impact on postoperative recovery and return of swallowing function. The authors aim to establish screening tools to assist in preoperatively determining the need for gastrostomy tube placement.

Methods: The authors prospectively assessed all patients undergoing complex head and neck reconstructive surgery during a 1-year study period.

Giant Cell Tumor of the Larynx Treated by Surgery and Adjuvant Denosumab: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Giant cell tumor of the larynx (GCTL) is a rare entity; only 34 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of GCTL in a 46 year-old male presenting clinical, radiographic, histological and therapeutic features. Previously reported cases are also reviewed.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Introduction: The melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is an exceptionally rare neoplasm. Despite their potential for local invasion, MNTI are considered benign neoplasms. Sporadic cases have been reported of MNTI acting in a malignant fashion; however, the majority of these tumors were of extragnathic origin.

Backyard hazard: a case series of ingested grill brush bristles and a novel approach to extraction.

Objectives: To report a small case series of an unusual ingested foreign body and a new method for removal of tongue base foreign bodies.

Methods: Three patients were identified with wire bristle foreign bodies between 2009 and 2011 at our academic tertiary medical center. Their medical records were reviewed and are described in this report.

Feasibility of flap reconstruction in conjunction with intraoperative radiation therapy for advanced and recurrent head and neck cancer.

Background: Radiation is a known risk factor for poor wound healing. Patients undergoing intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) typically receive higher cumulative doses to their wound beds than patients treated with conventional radiation therapy. We review our experience with IORT in patients undergoing resection of head and neck cancer and flap reconstruction.

True vocal fold immobility in the setting of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma: unusual illustrative cases and recommendations for operative strategy.

Objectives: We present cases of transient true vocal fold (TVF) immobility caused by well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC), and review the literature concerning management of WDTC invading the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN).

Methods: A description of the clinical course of 2 patients with WDTC and transient TVF immobility is presented in the context of a review of the literature concerning locally advanced WDTC with extrathyroidal extension and RLN involvement.

Results: Both patients had papillary thyroid carcinoma with ipsilateral TVF paralysis that resolved completely before operation.

Connexin expression and gap junctional intercellular communication in human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objective: Our laboratory is investigating the role that gap junction intercellular channels (composed of proteins called connexins) play in communicating apoptotic signals from therapeutically targeted squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) cells to adjacent, untreated, "bystander" cells (bystander effect). The nature of this research underscores the importance of delineating connexin expression patterns in SCCHN, and how this correlates with gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and bystander effects.

Study Design: The GJIC activity of a diverse panel of SCCHN cell lines, as well as normal oral epithelial (NOE) cell controls was determined in vitro.

Single-cell microinjection of cytochrome c can result in gap junction-mediated apoptotic cell death of bystander cells in head and neck cancer.

Background: Gap junction intercellular channels are required for metabolic cooperation between cells and regulate normal tissue homeostasis by means of the transfer of small molecules between contacting cells. Not surprisingly, the gap junction phenotype is frequently lost during carcinogenesis in human tissues (including those of the upper aerodigestive tract), freeing individual cancer cells from the growth control signals of normal surrounding tissues and less aggressive adjacent cancer cells. We hypothesized that gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) could mediate a bystander effect (apoptotic cell death) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) cells adjacent to individually targeted SCCHN cells.

Management of cancer of the base of tongue.

The management of base of tongue cancer has evolved steadily over time. Organ preservation with primary radiation therapy has produced excellent oncologic and functional outcomes. Concomitant chemotherapy has become important in patients with locoregionally advanced disease.