Correlation between HPV status at T and N sites of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Objectives: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is known to be associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) and may potentially play a vital role in tumor metastasis. The purpose of this study was to correlate HPV status of cervical lymph node metastases with their respective primary OPSCC tumor.

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples obtained from 34 patients with cervical lymph node metastases were analyzed with HPV 16 DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV typing.

Stationary facial nerve paresis after surgery for recurrent parotid pleomorphic adenoma: a follow-up study of 219 cases in Denmark in the period 1985-2012.

The purpose was to assess degree of permanent facial nerve dysfunction after surgery for recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (RPA) of the parotid gland, including variables that might influence re-operation outcomes. Nationwide retrospective longitudinal cohort study including a questionnaire survey of patients undergoing surgery for RPA. Of 219 living patients, 198 (92 %) responded and 127 (63 %) reported no facial dysfunction.

Immunohistochemical biomarkers and FDG uptake on PET/CT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: There is an exciting complementarity between the spatial resolution provided by molecular imaging of a single, often unspecific, biomarker on one hand and the more detailed biological profile achievable from a diagnostic biopsy using a panel of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers on the other. A number of previous studies have shown a relationship between glucose transport protein expression and 18F-Fludeoxyglucose (FDG) PET uptake. Here, FDG uptake is analyzed in relation to expression of a selected panel of IHC cancer biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Activation of the interleukin-6/Janus kinase/STAT3 pathway in pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland.

The interleukin-6 (IL-6)/Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway is of crucial importance in promoting tumorigenesis in several malignant tumors but may also be active in benign tumors, e.g., of pleomorphic adenoma (PA).

Human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary is a common event and a strong predictor of survival.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP).

Methods: All patients diagnosed with and treated for CUP between January 1, 2000, and June 1, 2011, at two Danish medical centers were included. All patients received a thorough diagnostic work-up, including FDG-PET, before being diagnosed as CUP.

Staging of cervical lymph nodes in oral squamous cell carcinoma: adding ultrasound in clinically lymph node negative patients may improve diagnostic work-up.

Introduction: Clinical staging of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is crucial for the choice of treatment. Computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are typically recommended and used for staging of the cervical lymph nodes (LNs). Although ultrasonography (US) is a non-expensive, accessible and non-ionising imaging modality this method is not consistently used.

Human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancer in Greenland in 1994-2010.

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), smoking and alcohol. In Greenland, a high rate of HPV-induced cervical cancer and venereal diseases are found, which exposes the population for high risk of HPV infection. In Greenland, only girls are included in the mandatory HPV vaccination program.

A spectrum of basaloid morphology in a subset of EBV-associated "lymphoepithelial carcinomas" of major salivary glands.

Nasopharyngeal carcinomas of the undifferentiated or lymphoepithelial type are most commonly seen in South East Asians. Identical tumors have also been described at a variety of other sites including lung, skin and salivary gland and have been referred to by a number of names including lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC). LECs of major salivary gland are extremely rare.

Lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark between 1974 and 2007.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence rate, distribution, patient characteristics and indications for surgical intervention of lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark between 1974 and 2007.

Material And Methods: All biopsied/surgically removed lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark during the period 1974-2007 were identified by searching two population-based registries. Specimens were collected and re-evaluated.

Evaluation of sentinel lymph node size and shape as a predictor of occult metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

The aim of the study was to evaluate sentinel lymph node size as a predictor of metastasis in N0 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma treated by individual sentinel node biopsy (SNB) guided neck dissection. In addition, to evaluate lymph node shape as an indicator of malignancy. A retrospective study based on data from 50 patients with clinically N0 neck and oral squamous cell carcinoma stage T1-2N0M0, SNB and consecutive neck dissection was performed.

CRTC1-MAML2 gene fusion in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lacrimal gland.

Epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland are histologically similar to salivary gland tumors. Here we report on a rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) in a 73‑year-old man with a swelling of the left lacrimal gland. The tumor had a microscopic appearance consistent with a classical low-grade MEC of the lacrimal gland.

Salivary gland carcinoma in Denmark 1990-2005: outcome and prognostic factors. Results of the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group (DAHANCA).

To describe outcome and prognostic factors in a national Danish series of patients treated for salivary gland carcinoma. From three Danish nation-wide registries and supplementary patient records, 871 patients diagnosed with primary major or minor salivary gland carcinoma in the period from 1990 to 2005 were identified. A total of 796 (91%) histological specimens were revised according to the WHO 2005 classification.

Salivary gland carcinoma in Denmark 1990-2005: a national study of incidence, site and histology. Results of the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group (DAHANCA).

To describe the incidence, site and histology (WHO 2005) of salivary gland carcinomas in Denmark. Nine hundred and eighty-three patients diagnosed from 1990 to 2005 were identified from three nation-wide registries. The associated clinical data were retrospectively retrieved from patient medical records.

The influence of HPV-associated p16-expression on accelerated fractionated radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: evaluation of the randomised DAHANCA 6&7 trial.

Background And Purpose: Tumour HPV-positivity is a favourable prognostic factor in the radiotherapy of HNSCC, but the optimal radiotherapy regimen for HPV-positive HNSCC is not yet defined. Reducing overall treatment time is known to improve outcome in the radiotherapy of HNSCC as was also demonstrated in the randomised DAHANCA 6&7 trial. We aimed to assess the influence of tumour HPV-status, expressed by p16, on the response to accelerated fractionated radiotherapy in HNSCC through evaluation of the DAHANCA 6&7 trial.

Bimodal ex vivo expansion of T cells from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a prerequisite for adoptive cell transfer.

Background Aims: Adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has proven effective in metastatic melanoma and should therefore be explored in other types of cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of potentially expanding clinically relevant quantities of tumor-specific T-cell cultures from TIL from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using a more rapid expansion procedure compared with previous HNSCC studies.

Methods: In a two-step expansion process, initially TIL bulk cultures were established from primary and recurrent HNSCC tumors in high-dose interleukin (IL)-2.

Survival of head and neck cancer in Greenland.

Objectives: Head and neck cancer is frequent in the Inuit population of Greenland and is characterized by a very high incidence of Epstein-Barr virus associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, information on the treatment and survival of Inuit head and neck cancer patients is practically non-existent. The aim of this study, therefore, was to analyse the epidemiological pattern, time course and survival of head and neck cancer patients in Greenland.

Molecular markers in the surgical margin of oral carcinomas.

Background: Local or regional lymph node recurrence is the most common pattern of treatment failure in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The local recurrence rate is 30% even when the surgical resection margin is diagnosed as tumour free. Accumulation of genetic changes in histologically normal epithelium in the surgical resection margin may explain the local recurrence rate.

Heterotopic neuroglial tissue: two cases involving the tongue and the buccal region.

We report two rare cases of extranasal heterotopic neuroglial tissue and review the literature on the topic. The clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical features are presented. Both patients had lesions extranasally, even though the sinonasal region is the predominant site for these heterotopias.

Need for intensive histopathologic analysis to determine lymph node metastases when using sentinel node biopsy in oral cancer.

Objective: To determine the predictive value of sentinel node biopsy (SNB)-assisted neck dissection in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) stage T1 to 2N0M0 and to determine the incidence of subclinical metastases.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with clinically N0 neck underwent SNB-assisted neck dissection.

The role of SPECT-CT in the lymphoscintigraphic identification of sentinel nodes in patients with oral cancer.

Conclusion: SPECT-CT may improve the localization of sentinel nodes (SNs) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Compared with planar lymphoscintigraphy SPECT-CT detected more SNs and provided additional anatomical and spatial information about their localization. New generation SPECT with higher resolution CT scanners are expected to provide more accurate information about the localization of SNs.

Imatinib mesylate in idiopathic and postpolycythemic myelofibrosis.

Imatinib mesylate targets the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding sites of the protein tyrosine kinase domains associated with Bcr-abl, the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and c-kit. In idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) PDGF is considered to be one of the growth factors responsible for the development of bone marrow fibrosis. Recently, it has been shown that imatinib has antifibrogenic effect on bone marrow fibrosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia.