Risk-Factor Profile of Living Kidney Donors: The Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Living Kidney Donor Registry 2004-2012.

Background: Recent literature suggests that living kidney donation may be associated with an excess risk of end-stage kidney disease and death. Efforts to maximize access to transplantation may result in acceptance of donors who do not fit within current guidelines, potentially placing them at risk of adverse long-term outcomes.

Methods: We studied the risk profile of Australian and New Zealand living kidney donors using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Living Kidney Donor Registry over 2004 to 2012.

Surgical salvage improves overall survival for patients with HPV-positive and HPV-negative recurrent locoregional and distant metastatic oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) tumor status and surgical salvage are associated with improved prognosis for patients with recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Current data regarding types of surgery and the impact of surgery for patients with distant metastatic disease are limited.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent OPSCC from 2 institutions between 2000 and 2012 was performed.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy: a single-institution experience, 2001-2012.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula in patients undergoing total laryngectomy at a single institution.

Materials And Methods: The records of 59 patients undergoing primary or salvage total laryngectomy at our institution from 2001 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient, tumor and treatment characteristics, and surgical technique.

Transoral robotic surgery experience in 44 cases.

Objective: To report a single institution's experience with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and its clinical outcomes. This was a retrospective study carried out at a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-four consecutive TORS patients with benign and malignant diseases were reviewed.

Low-dose cyclophosphamide administered as daily or single dose enhances the antitumor effects of a therapeutic HPV vaccine.

Although therapeutic HPV vaccines are able to elicit systemic HPV-specific immunity, clinical responses have not always correlated with levels of vaccine-induced CD8(+) T cells in human clinical trials. This observed discrepancy may be attributable to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in which the CD8(+) T cells are recruited. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are cells that can dampen cytotoxic CD8(+) T-cell function.

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin/5-Fluorouracil for locoregional advanced head and neck cancer: analysis of 105 consecutive patients.

Objective. We reviewed a cohort of patients with previously untreated locoregional advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who received a uniform chemoradiotherapy regimen. Methods.

Comparison of acute toxicities in two primary chemoradiation regimens in the treatment of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The optimal dosage and frequency of platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen for treating advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains unresolved. This study aims to compare the toxicity and efficacy of weekly versus more dose-intensive cisplatin-based CRTs.

Methods: We reviewed 155 stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with no evidence of distant metastasis treated with one of two CRT regimens from 2000 to 2010 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

Characterization of the methylation patterns in human papillomavirus type 16 viral DNA in head and neck cancers.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 can integrate into the host genome, thereby rendering the viral coding genes susceptible to epigenetic modification. Using bisulfite genomic sequencing, we determined the methylation status of all 110 CpG sites within the viral epigenome in advanced stage III/IV HPV-16-associated head and neck cancers. We found that the viral genome was hypomethylated in the majority of head and neck cancers, in particular within the viral regulatory region, long control region (LCR), which controls transcription of the E6 and E7 oncogenes.

Factors associated with pharyngoesophageal stricture in patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to elucidate factors associated with pharyngoesophageal strictures after treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients receiving cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy combined with concurrent hyperfractionated radiation therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Results: Strictures developed in 13 of 67 patients (19%).

Laryngeal lipoma associated with diffuse lipomatosis: case report and literature review.

Lipomas are benign mesenchymal tumors that are often found in the head and neck. Intrinsic lipomas of the larynx and supraglottic area are rare, as fewer than 115 cases have been reported in the literature; almost all of these occurred in isolation. We report a case of a laryngeal lipoma that was associated with diffuse systemic lipomatosis.

Characterization of human papillomavirus type 11-specific immune responses in a preclinical model.

Objectives/hypothesis: Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 are associated with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Although a prophylactic vaccine has been developed that protects against HPV infection, a therapeutic vaccine is still needed for those patients infected with and/or suffering from persistent disease. Therefore, we developed a novel, therapeutic DNA vaccine targeting HPV-11 and characterized the in vivo immunologic responses generated against HPV-11 E6 and E7 after DNA vaccination in a preclinical model.

Selective versus comprehensive neck dissection after chemoradiation for advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To determine whether a comprehensive neck dissection (CND) or a selective neck dissection (SND) is indicated as planned post-primary chemoradiation treatment (CRT) for patients with advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Setting: A community teaching hospital.

Limitations of PET/CT in determining need for neck dissection after primary chemoradiation for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate PET/CT in predicting residual nodal disease after primary chemoradiation (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNSCC) with N2 disease or greater.

Design: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted. Thirty-eight patients received primary CRT for HNSCC with N2 or greater disease, PET/CT after treatment and neck dissection from January 2003 to December 2006.

Administration of HPV DNA vaccine via electroporation elicits the strongest CD8+ T cell immune responses compared to intramuscular injection and intradermal gene gun delivery.

DNA vaccines are an attractive approach to eliciting antigen-specific immunity. Intracellular targeting of tumor antigens through its linkage to immunostimulatory molecules such as calreticulin (CRT) can improve antigen processing and presentation through the MHC class I pathway and increase cytotoxic CD8+ T cell production. However, even with these enhancements, the efficacy of such immunotherapeutic strategies is dependent on the identification of an effective route and method of DNA administration.

Prognostic significance of human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Objectives/hypothesis: The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a causative factor in 20% to 25% of all head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Ongoing research suggests that the presence of HPV DNA in HNSCC predicts a positive prognosis with respect to disease-free and overall survival. However, most studies have been limited by the heterogeneity in treatment regimens and/or anatomic subsites of tumor origin.