Mcl-1, vascular endothelial growth factor-R2, and 14-3-3sigma expression might predict primary response against radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Purpose: This study was done to explore whether the expression of a selected set of proteins could predict primary response to radiotherapy or concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

Experimental Design: Forty-three pretreatment tumor biopsies were taken during diagnostic panendoscopy and examined for Mcl-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-R2, CD9, and 14-3-3sigma expression by immunohistochemistry. Forty-three patients underwent primary radiotherapy, of which, 29 patients received concomitant chemotherapy (low dose daily cisplatin, mitomycin C bolus).

Nimesulide and indomethacin induce apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). There are two isoforms of the enzyme. Recent investigations indicate that both isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2, are involved in carcinogenesis.

Differential expression pattern of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The enzyme cyclooxygenase catalyzes the first step of the synthesis of prostanoids Cyclooxygenase has been shown to exist in two distinct isoforms: cyclooxygenase-1 is constitutively expressed as a housekeeping enzyme in most tissues whereas the inducible cyclooxygenase-2 has been reported to be involved in inflammatory processes and in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution patterns of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in peritumoral lymphocytic infiltrates and tumor cells of head and neck carcinoma.

Material And Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 24 patients suffering from oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Betulinic acid: a new cytotoxic compound against malignant head and neck cancer cells.

Background: A new compound, betulinic acid, has been found to be cytotoxic against a variety of tumor cells originating from the neural crest. Its efficacy against head and neck squamous cellular carcinoma cell lines has so far not been tested.

Methods: Cell numbers were assayed by automated counting; caspase activation and programmed cell death were determined using an antibody specific for an apoptosis-associated epitope in epithelial cells.