Surgery After BRAF-Directed Therapy Is Associated with Improved Survival in BRAF Mutant Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

The aim of this study was to describe the oncologic outcomes of patients with BRAF-mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) who had neoadjuvant BRAF-directed therapy with subsequent surgery. For context, we also reviewed patients who received BRAF-directed therapy after surgery, and those who did not have surgery after BRAF-directed therapy. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary care cancer center in Texas from 2017 to 2021.

Decreased overall survival in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer receiving definitive radiotherapy and concurrent cetuximab: National Cancer Database analysis.

Background: Recently, randomized trials have questioned the efficacy of cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy compared to chemoradiation for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx (HNSCC). We compared the OS of patients treated with radiotherapy alone (RTonly), chemoradiotherapy (chemoRT), and bioradiotherapy (cetuxRT).

Methods: Patients with stage III-IVB HNSCC treated with RTonly, chemoRT, or cetuxRT were identified in the National Cancer Database.

Synergistic checkpoint-blockade and radiotherapy-radiodynamic therapy via an immunomodulatory nanoscale metal-organic framework.

Checkpoint blockade elicits durable responses in immunogenic cancers, but it is largely ineffective in immunologically 'cold' tumours. Here we report the design, synthesis and performance of a bismuth-based nanoscale metal-organic framework that modulates the immunological and mechanical properties of the tumour microenvironment for enhanced radiotherapy-radiodynamic therapy. In mice with non-immunogenic prostate and pancreatic tumours irradiated with low X-ray doses, the intratumoural injection of the radiosensitizer mediated potent outcomes via the repolarization of immunosuppressive M2 macrophages into immunostimulatory M1 macrophages, the reduction of the concentration of intratumoural transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and of collagen density, and the inactivation of cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Genetic Changes Driving Immunosuppressive Microenvironments in Oral Premalignancy.

Oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) are the precursors to oral cavity cancers, and have variable rates of progression to invasive disease. As an intermediate state, OPLs have acquired a subset of the genomic alterations while arising in an oral inflammatory environment. These specific genomic changes may facilitate the transition to an immune microenvironment that permits malignant transformation.

Proton Image-guided Radiation Assignment for Therapeutic Escalation via Selection of locally advanced head and neck cancer patients [PIRATES]: A Phase I safety and feasibility trial of MRI-guided adaptive particle radiotherapy.

Introduction: Radiation dose-escalation for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients aiming to improve cure rates is challenging due to the increased risk of unacceptable treatment-induced toxicities. With "Proton Image-guided Radiation Assignment for Therapeutic Escalation via Selection of locally advanced head and neck cancer patients" (PIRATES), we present a novel treatment approach that is designed to facilitate dose-escalation while minimizing the risk of dose-limiting toxicities for locally advanced HPV-negative HNC patients. The aim of this Phase I trial is to assess the safety & feasibility of PIRATES approach.

Biology of the Radio- and Chemo-Responsiveness in HPV Malignancies.

In multiple anatomic sites, patients with cancers associated with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) experience better locoregional control and overall survival after radiotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy than patients with HPV-negative cancers. These improved outcomes suggest that relatively unique biological features in HPV-positive cancers may increase sensitivity to DNA damaging agents as well as an impaired DNA damage response. This review will address potential biological mechanisms driving this increased sensitivity of HPV-positive cancer to radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Proton Radiotherapy to Reduce Late Complications in Childhood Head and Neck Cancers.

In most childhood head and neck cancers, radiotherapy is an essential component of treatment; however, it can be associated with problematic long-term complications. Proton beam therapy is accepted as a preferred radiation modality in pediatric cancers to minimize the late radiation side effects. Given that childhood cancers are a rare and heterogeneous disease, the support for proton therapy comes from risk modeling and a limited number of cohort series.

Stereotactic body ablative radiotherapy for reirradiation of small volume head and neck cancers is associated with prolonged survival: Large, single-institution, modern cohort study.

Background: Recurrent head and neck cancer has poor prognosis. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may improve outcomes by delivering ablative radiation doses.

Methods: We reviewed patients who received definitive-intent SBRT reirradiation at our institution from 2013 to 2020.

Proton Therapy for HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancers of the Head and Neck: a De-Intensification Strategy.

The rise in the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC), the relatively young age at which it is diagnosed, and its favorable prognosis necessitate the use of treatment techniques that reduce the likelihood of side effects during and after curative treatment. Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) is a form of radiotherapy that de-intensifies treatment through dose de-escalation to normal tissues without compromising dose to the primary tumor and involved, regional lymph nodes. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma is more sensitive to proton radiation than is HPV-negative squamous cell carcinoma.

Impact of anatomic site of distant metastasis on survival in salivary gland cancers.

Background: As exemplified in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), metastatic salivary gland cancers display heterogenous behavior. Although anatomic site of metastasis has been suggested to be prognostic for survival in this population, this is not adequately characterized in the current literature.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB), patients with newly diagnosed metastatic salivary gland cancers with distant metastasis to a single organ were identified.

Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy: Increased Biochemical Control and Late Toxicity in Men With Medication Allergies.

Background: Given similarities in the mediators of medication allergy (MA) and tissue response to radiotherapy, we assessed whether outcomes following prostate radiotherapy differ in patients with MAs.

Methods: A total 587 men with known MA history and nonmetastatic prostate cancer underwent radiotherapy from 1989 to 2006. Clinicopathologic and treatment variables were analyzed for association with freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) and late treatment-related, physician-defined Radiation Therapy Oncology Group gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity.

Correction to: Notch Signaling and Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oral Tumorigenesis.

Unfortunately the book was published without correcting a typo in the author name in chapter 8. The author name has been corrected now to read as follows.

Patterns of Care and Survival Outcomes for Odontogenic Cancers.

Objectives: Our understanding of odontogenic cancers is limited primarily to case studies given the rarity of these head and neck neoplasms. Using the National Cancer Database, we report the treatment patterns and survival outcomes for one of the largest cohorts of patients with odontogenic cancers.

Methods: Patients with odontogenic tumors who did not have metastatic disease and received at least part of their care at the reporting facility were included.

Notch Signaling and Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oral Tumorigenesis.

The NOTCH pathway is critical for the development of many cell types including the squamous epithelium lining of cutaneous and mucosal surfaces. In genetically engineered mouse models, Notch1 acts as one of the first steps to commit basal keratinocytes to terminally differentiate. Similarly, in human head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs), NOTCH1 is often lost consistent with its essential tumor-suppressive role for initiating keratinocyte differentiation.

Cooperation of genes in HPV16 E6/E7-dependent cervicovaginal carcinogenesis trackable by endoscopy and independent of exogenous estrogens or carcinogens.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is necessary but insufficient for progression of epithelial cells from dysplasia to carcinoma-in situ (CIS) to invasive cancer. The combination of mutant cellular and viral oncogenes that regulate progression of cervical cancer (CC) remains unclear. Using combinations of HPV16 E6/E7 (E+), mutant Kras (mKras) (K+) and/or loss of Pten (P-/-), we generated autochthonous models of CC without exogenous estrogen, carcinogen or promoters.

Patterns of Care and Outcomes of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and 3D Conformal Radiotherapy for Early Stage Glottic Cancer: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

Early stage glottic cancer has traditionally been treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). However, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has been recently adopted as an alternative to decrease toxicity. Here, we compared the usage and outcomes of IMRT and 3DCRT for patients with early stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glottic larynx.