Preventing smoking relapse in patients with cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Abstaining from smoking after a cancer diagnosis is critical to mitigating the risk of multiple adverse health outcomes. Although many patients with cancer attempt to quit smoking, the majority relapse. The current randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of adapting an evidence-based smoking relapse prevention (SRP) intervention for patients with cancer.

Adjuvant radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy for the management of high-risk salivary gland carcinomas.

Background: Given the aggressive behavior of advanced salivary malignancies, the purpose of the current study was to explore the utility of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in this population.

Methods: A retrospective study of salivary carcinomas treated from 1998 to 2013 with postoperative CRT (37 patients) or radiotherapy (RT; 103 patients) was completed.

Results: The decision to utilize adjuvant CRT versus RT was influenced by tumor grade and histology, cervical lymph node status, surgical margins, and perineural invasion.

Development of a Targeted Smoking Relapse-Prevention Intervention for Cancer Patients.

We describe the series of iterative steps used to develop a smoking relapse-prevention intervention customized to the needs of cancer patients. Informed by relevant literature and a series of preliminary studies, an educational tool (DVD) was developed to target the unique smoking relapse risk factors among cancer patients. Learner verification interviews were conducted with 10 cancer patients who recently quit smoking to elicit feedback and inform the development of the DVD.

Smoking relapse-prevention intervention for cancer patients: Study design and baseline data from the surviving SmokeFree randomized controlled trial.

Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis contributes to several negative health outcomes. Although many cancer patients attempt to quit smoking, high smoking relapse rates have been observed. This highlights the need for a targeted, evidence-based smoking-relapse prevention intervention.

Institutional prevalence of malignancy of indeterminate thyroid cytology is necessary but insufficient to accurately interpret molecular marker tests.

Objective: Several molecular marker tests are available to refine the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Knowing the true prevalence of malignancy (PoM) within each cytological category is considered necessary to select the most appropriate test and to interpret results accurately. We describe our institutional PoM among cytological categories and report our experience with molecular markers.

CD45 Phosphatase Inhibits STAT3 Transcription Factor Activity in Myeloid Cells and Promotes Tumor-Associated Macrophage Differentiation.

Recruitment of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and differentiation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major factors contributing to tumor progression and metastasis. We demonstrated that differentiation of TAMs in tumor site from monocytic precursors was controlled by downregulation of the activity of the transcription factor STAT3. Decreased STAT3 activity was caused by hypoxia and affected all myeloid cells but was not observed in tumor cells.

Outcomes of mucosal melanoma of the head and neck.

Introduction: Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is a rare disease with limited data available on outcomes; therefore, we reviewed our institutional experience.

Methods: An institutional database was queried and 38 patients with head and neck mucosal melanoma were identified. Charts were abstracted and local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated.

Determining optimal follow-up in the management of human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Determining the optimal follow-up for patients can help maximize the use of health care resources. This is particularly true in a growing epidemic such as human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+OPSCC). The objective of the current study was to evaluate time to disease recurrence or late toxicity in this cohort of patients to optimize patient management.

The Effects of Preoperative Embolization on Carotid Body Paraganglioma Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: There is no definitive consensus on the impact of preoperative embolization on carotid body paraganglioma management. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of preoperative embolization on carotid body paraganglioma excision.

Data Sources: A systematic search was conducted without limits, and it included studies published on or before July 2013 from PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library.

Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, Version 2.2015.

This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Thyroid Carcinoma focuses on anaplastic carcinoma because substantial changes were made to the systemic therapy recommendations for the 2015 update. Dosages and frequency of administration are now provided, docetaxel/doxorubicin regimens were added, and single-agent cisplatin was deleted because it is not recommended for patients with advanced or metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer.

A phase 2 trial of lenvatinib (E7080) in advanced, progressive, radioiodine-refractory, differentiated thyroid cancer: A clinical outcomes and biomarker assessment.

Background: Lenvatinib is an oral, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 through 3 (VEGFR1-VEGFR3), fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 through 4 (FGFR1-FGFR4), platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα), ret proto-oncogene (RET), and v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT) signaling networks implicated in tumor angiogenesis. Positive phase 1 results in solid tumors prompted a phase 2 trial in patients with advanced, radioiodine-refractory, differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC).

Methods: Fifty-eight patients with RR-DTC who had disease progression during the previous 12 months received lenvatinib 24 mg once daily in 28-day cycles until disease progression, unmanageable toxicity, withdrawal, or death.

ER stress regulates myeloid-derived suppressor cell fate through TRAIL-R-mediated apoptosis.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) dampen the immune response thorough inhibition of T cell activation and proliferation and often are expanded in pathological conditions. Here, we studied the fate of MDSCs in cancer. Unexpectedly, MDSCs had lower viability and a shorter half-life in tumor-bearing mice compared with neutrophils and monocytes.

Management of invasive well-differentiated thyroid cancer: an American Head and Neck Society consensus statement. AHNS consensus statement.

Background: Invasive differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is relatively frequent, yet there is a paucity of specific guidelines devoted to its management. The Endocrine Committee of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) convened a panel to provide clinical consensus statements based on review of the literature, synthesized with the expert opinion of the group.

Methods: An expert panel, selected from membership of the AHNS, constructed the manuscript and recommendations for management of DTC with invasion of recurrent laryngeal nerve, trachea, esophagus, larynx, and major vessels based on current best evidence.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy as primary treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Over the past decade, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has gained widespread use in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Methods: All patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated with primary IMRT with or without chemotherapy over a 5-year period were reviewed. Outcomes and morbidity were analyzed and compared with previously published data.

Epigenetic silencing of retinoblastoma gene regulates pathologic differentiation of myeloid cells in cancer.

Two major populations of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs) and polymorphonuclear MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) regulate immune responses in cancer and other pathologic conditions. Under physiologic conditions, Ly6C(hi)Ly6G(-) inflammatory monocytes, which are the normal counterpart of M-MDSCs, differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells. PMN-MDSCs are the predominant group of MDSCs that accumulates in cancer.

Predictors of smoking relapse in patients with thoracic cancer or head and neck cancer.

Background: Cancer patients who continue smoking are at increased risk for adverse outcomes including reduced treatment efficacy and poorer survival rates. Many patients spontaneously quit smoking after diagnosis; however, relapse is understudied. The goal of this study was to evaluate smoking-related, affective, cognitive, and physical variables as predictors of smoking after surgical treatment among patients with lung cancer and head and neck cancer.

Beyond good intentions and patient perceptions: competing definitions of effective communication in head and neck cancer care at the end of life.

Effective communication between dying cancer patients and their health care providers about prognosis and treatment options ensures informed decision making at the end of life. This study analyzed data from interviews with end-stage head and neck cancer patients and their health care providers about communication competence and approaches to communicating about end-of-life issues. Patients rated their oncologists as competent and comfortable discussing end-of-life issues, although few reported discussing specific aspects of end-of-life care.

HIF-1α regulates function and differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a major component of the immune-suppressive network described in cancer and many other pathological conditions. We demonstrate that although MDSCs from peripheral lymphoid organs and the tumor site share similar phenotype and morphology, these cells display profound functional differences. MDSC from peripheral lymphoid organs suppressed antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells but failed to inhibit nonspecific T cell function.

Lipid accumulation and dendritic cell dysfunction in cancer.

Dendritic cells (DCs), a type of professional antigen-presenting cells, are responsible for initiation and maintenance of immune responses. Here we report that a substantial proportion of DCs in tumor-bearing mice and people with cancer have high amounts of triglycerides as compared with DCs from tumor-free mice and healthy individuals. In our studies, lipid accumulation in DCs was caused by increased uptake of extracellular lipids due to upregulation of scavenger receptor A.

Patient-provider communication and perspectives on smoking cessation and relapse in the oncology setting.

Objective: To fill a gap in research by examining cancer patient-provider communication regarding tobacco use and patients' perspectives regarding their experiences with smoking cessation and relapse.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 lung and head and neck cancer patients and 11 health care providers.

Results: Qualitative analyses revealed that cancer patients express high levels of motivation to quit smoking; however, patients do not ask providers for assistance with quitting and maintaining abstinence and relapsed patients are reluctant to disclose smoking behavior due to stigma and guilt.

Mechanism regulating reactive oxygen species in tumor-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a major component of the immune suppressive network described in cancer and many other pathological conditions. Recent studies have demonstrated that one of the major mechanisms of MDSC-induced immune suppression is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the mechanism of this phenomenon remained unknown.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis with perineural spread.

We describe the histopathologic findings of perineural invasion in orbital mucormycosis in a man with diabetes in ketoacidosis. Linear enhancement on MRI beginning at the orbital apex was correlated with fungal tracking of the trigeminal and lacrimal nerves. Mucormycosis can spread considerable distances from its primary focus of infection along peripheral nerves, a phenomenon that can be identified clinically with contrast-enhanced MRI.

Alcoholism, depression, and abnormal cognition in head and neck cancer: a pilot study.

Objective: To determine prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependency, depression, and cognitive impairment in presurgical head and neck cancer patients.

Study Design: Standardized testing by diagnostic interview was used to determine major depression and alcoholism. Mattis Dementia Rating Scale examined cognitive ability preoperatively.