Liquid biopsy with plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA characterizes biological relapse for the prediction of cancer recurrence in non-disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate whether a bounce in plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA during posttreatment surveillance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) informs the risk of clinical recurrence and its implication for early therapeutic intervention.

Methods: 950 non-disseminated NPC patients with completed remission in 3 months after treatment were retrospectively screened. Detectable EBV DNA with no evidence of clinical relapse during follow-up was deemed as DNA bounce.

Delta magnetic resonance imaging radiomics features‑based nomogram predicts long‑term efficacy after induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To establish and validate a delta-radiomics-based model for predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) following induction chemotherapy (IC).

Methods And Materials: A total of 250 LA-NPC patients (training cohort: n = 145; validation cohort: n = 105) were enrolled. Radiomic features were extracted from MRI scans taken before and after IC, and changes in these features were calculated.

Anlotinib reversed resistance to PD-1 inhibitors in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancers: a real-world retrospective study.

Patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancers (R/M HNCs) are prone to developing resistance after immunotherapy. This retrospective real-world study aims to investigate whether the addition of anlotinib can reverse resistance to PD-1 inhibitors (PD-1i) and evaluate the efficacy and safety of this combination in R/M HNCs. Main outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR), and safety.

Prognostic value of lymph node-to-primary tumor ratio of PET standardized uptake value for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a recursive partitioning risk stratification analysis.

Background: Induction chemotherapy (IC) combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy has become the standard treatment for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). Data on the prognostic value of the lymph node-to-primary tumor ratio (NTR) of positron emission tomography (PET) standardized uptake value (SUV) for patients treated with IC were limited.

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value of the SUV NTR for patients with LA-NPC treated with IC.

Multiply-mesoporous hydrophilic titanium dioxide nanohybrid for the highly-performed enrichment of N-glycopeptides from human serum.

N-glycopeptide is considered as one of significant biomarkers which provide guidance for the diagnosis and drug design of diseases. However, the direct analysis of N-glycopeptides is nearly impracticable mainly owing to their extremely low abundance and grave signal suppression from other interfering substances in the bio-samples. In this research, a multiply-mesoporous hydrophilic TiO nanohybrid (mM-TiO@Cys) was synthesized by immobilizing Cys on a TiO substrate with hierarchical mesopores to achieve the highly-performed enrichment of N-glycopeptides.

Radiation-induced nasopharyngeal ulcers after re-irradiation with intensity-modulated radiotherapy in locoregional recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: a dose-volume-outcome analysis.

Objective: To analyze the interrelation between radiation dose and radiation-induced nasopharyngeal ulcer (RINU) in locoregional recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods: Clinical data were collected from 363 patients with locoregional recurrent NPC who received re-irradiated with definitive IMRT from 2009 to 2017. Twenty-nine patients were diagnosed with RINU.

Selective Treatment Deintensification by Reducing Radiation Dose and Omitting Concurrent Chemotherapy Based on Response to Induction Chemotherapy in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Arm, Phase 2 Trial (IChoice-01).

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of deintensification regimen in the light of the response to induction chemotherapy (IC) in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Methods And Materials: Patients with p16+ OPSCC, T1-2/N1-3M0 (excluding T1N1M0 with single and ≤3 cm lymph node) or T3-4N0-3M0 were enrolled between January 2019 and July 2021. All patients received 2 cycles of IC with docetaxel 75 mg/m dL and cisplatin 75 mg/m dL every 3 weeks.

Nomograms containing body dose parameters for predicting survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To assess the impact of body dose on survival outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and to create novel nomograms incorporating body dose parameters for predicting survival.

Methods: 594 of non-metastasis NPC patients (training group, 396; validation group, 198) received intensity-modulated radiation therapy at our institution from January 2012 to December 2016. Patient characteristics, body dose parameters in dose-volume histogram (DVH) and hematology profiles were collected for predicting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Prognostic value of circulating Epstein-Barr virus DNA level post-induction chemotherapy for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A recursive partitioning risk stratification analysis.

Background: To evaluate the prognostic value of plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA level post-induction chemotherapy (IC) for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: A total of 893 newly diagnosed NPC patients treated with IC were retrospectively reviewed. The recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was performed to construct a risk stratification model.

Facile fabrication of hydrophilic covalent organic framework composites for highly selective enrichment of N-glycopeptides.

The development of facilely synthetic materials acts an essential role in glycoproteome analysis, especially for the highly efficient enrichment of N-linked glycopeptides. In this work, a facile and timesaving route was introduced in which COF served as a carrier and poly (ethylenimine) (PEI) and carrageenan (Carr) were successively coated on the surface via electrostatic interaction. The resultant COF@PEI@Carr showed remarkable performance in glycopeptide enrichment with high sensitivity (2 fmol μL), high selectivity (1:800, molar ratio of human serum IgG to BSA digests), large loading capacity (300 mg g), satisfactory recovery (102.

Radiotherapy Alone Versus Concurrent or Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients with Negative Epstein-Barr Virus DNA after Induction Chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy (IC) plus radiotherapy (RT) and IC plus concurrent or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT/AC) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with negative Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV DNA) after IC. A total of 547 NPC patients with negative plasma EBV DNA post-IC were included. Patients were classified into the IC + RT group and the IC + CCRT/AC group.

Unraveling the patterns and pathways of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: evidence for individualized clinical target volume delineation.

Backgrounds: Despite publication of international guidelines, there are notable controversial points of clinical target volume (CTV) delineation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recently, scholars proposed a novel way of delineation of CTV in NPC-individualization of CTV delineation based on T classification and spread patterns, which yielded excellent long-term local control with limited late toxicities. The aim of this study was to clarify the anatomic patterns and pathways of local recurrence of NPC and provide a clinical reference for the delineation of CTV.

Response to induction chemotherapy predicts survival outcomes in oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: The role of induction chemotherapy (IC) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) remains controversial. Its interpretation can be confounded by heterogeneity in chemosensitivity and human papillomavirus (HPV) status. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of IC response in HPV-positive and -negative OPSCC.

AntiPD-L1 antibody conjugated Au-SPIOs nanoplatform for enhancing radiosensitivity and triggering anti-tumor immune response.

To improve radiotherapy effect by inducing more toxicity for tumors and less for normal tissue and switching immunosuppressive microenvironment caused by expression of PD-L1 and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to immunoreactive microenvironment, we designed a PD-L1-targeted nanoplatform consisting of gold nanoparticles and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (antiPD-L1-SPIOs@PLGA@Au). In vivo T2-weighted images, the best contrast effect of tumor was achieved two hours after intravenous injection of antiPD-L1-SPIOs@PLGA@Au. The tumor control caused by irradiation combined with antiPD-L1-SPIOs@PLGA@Au was better than that by radiotherapy alone in clone formation assay and B16F10 subcutaneous tumor model.

Failure pattern and suggestions for target volume delineation of carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Background: To review our long-term clinical experience, analyze the failure patterns, and give suggestions for target volume delineation of carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods: From April 2008 to May 2019, 30 patients with CASTLE treated by postoperative or radical IMRT in our center were retrospectively reviewed. A total dose of 56-60 Gy in 28-30 fractions was prescribed to patients without residual disease and 66 Gy in 33 fractions for patients with residual or unresectable disease.

Revealing the crosstalk between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) arises from the epithelial cells located in the nasopharynx and has a distinct geographic distribution. Chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, as its most common causative agents, can be detected in 100% of NPC types. In-depth studies of the cellular and molecular events leading to immunosuppression in NPC have revealed new therapeutic targets and diverse combinations that promise to benefit patients with highly refractory, advanced and metastatic NPC.

Induction chemotherapy of modified docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil for laryngeal preservation in locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Previous studies have investigated the value of induction chemotherapy (IC) in organ preservation strategies for head and neck cancers. This study evaluated the effectiveness of sequential IC with radiotherapy as a laryngeal preservation strategy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma (LAHSCC).

Methods: One hundred and forty-two consecutive patients with LAHSCC were retrospectively analyzed who received three IC regimens from 2015 to 2019.

Predictors of radiation-induced hypothyroidism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors after intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Background: The aim of the study is to identify clinical and dosimetric factors that could predict the risk of hypothyroidism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients following intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods: A total of 404 non-metastatic NPC patients were included in our study. All patients were treated with IMRT.

Dissecting the heterogeneity of the microenvironment in primary and recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas using single-cell RNA sequencing.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has a 10-15% recurrence rate, while no long term or durable treatment options are currently available. Single-cell profiling in recurrent NPC (rNPC) may aid in designing effective anticancer therapies, including immunotherapies. For the first time, we profiled the transcriptomes of ∼60,000 cells from four primary NPC and two rNPC cases to provide deeper insights into the dynamic changes in rNPC within radiation fields.

Taxane/gemcitabine-containing chemotherapy plus locoregional IMRT for patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate treatment outcomes of de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) patients receiving taxane/gemcitabine-containing chemotherapy followed by locoregional intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and analyze potential prognostic factors.

Methods: A total of 118 patients between March 2008 and November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with taxane/gemcitabine-containing systemic chemotherapy followed by definitive locoregional IMRT.

Local control and failure patterns after intensity modulated radiotherapy with reduced target volume delineation after induction chemotherapy for patients with T4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The delineation of target volume after induction chemotherapy(IC) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is currently controversial. In this study, we aimed to analyze the long-term local control(LC) and failure patterns of T4 NPC treated with reduced target volume radiotherapy after IC.

Methods: From September 2007 to January 2013, 145 patients with T4 NPC were retrospectively reviewed.

Cancer of Pharyngoesophageal Junction: A Different Subtype From Hypopharyngeal and Cervical Esophageal Cancer?

Background: Squamous cell cancers in the hypopharynx (HP) and cervical esophagus (CE) are different diseases with different staging systems and treatment approaches. Pharyngoesophageal junction (PEJ) tumor involves both the hypopharynx and the cervical esophagus simultaneously, but few reports focused on PEJ tumors. This study aimed to clarify clinical characteristics and the treatment approaches of PEJ tumors.