Cytological and Immunocytological Monitoring of Oropharyngeal Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Background/aim: Due to the high recurrence rates of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and de-novo local secondary carcinomas, a close monitoring of patients is mandatory. In doubtful cases, a clearance by histological biopsy is necessary. This, however, bears potential complications.

Expression of the Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule and Cytokeratin 8 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: A Comparative Study.

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a well-known and widely accepted tumor-associated antigen in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In contrast, little is known about cytokeratin 8 (CK8), an intermediary filament protein, recently associated with HNSCC. Studies demonstrated an aberrant expression on the cell surface of different carcinomas of both antigens.

Cytokine changes in response to radio-/chemotherapeutic treatment in head and neck cancer.

Background: Radiation and systemic chemotherapy are standard treatment strategies for advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer. However, little is known about the implications and changes in the tumor microenvironment, including the T-helper (TH)1/TH2 balance in response to these treatment regimens. The aim of the current study was to unravel the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation on cytokine changes.

Biodistribution of 131I-labeled anti-CK8 monoclonal antibody in HNSCC in xenotransplanted SCID mice.

Background: A new promising approach to improve the outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the application of radio-labeled antibodies directed against tumor-associated antigens. Cytokeratin 8 (CK8), an intermediate filament forming protein, is shown to be de novo expressed in dysplastic lesions as well as in HNSCC. Therefore like the epithelial cell adhesion molecule CK8 seems to be a suitable anchor molecule for targeted radioimmunotherapy (RIT).

Comparison of two different local anaesthetic infiltrations for postoperative pain relief in tonsillectomy: a prospective, randomised, double blind, clinical trial.

In previous studies, it was shown that the post-tonsillectomy wound infiltration of bupivacaine can reduce postoperative pain. The objective of this study is to determine whether the postoperative wound infiltration with a mixture of bupivacaine, mepivacaine and adrenaline is more effective than the sole application of bupivacaine. A prospective, double-blind, randomized, control study included 30 patients scheduled for "cold steel" tonsillectomy.

Application methods of local anaesthetic infiltrations for postoperative pain relief in tonsillectomy: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, clinical trial.

Perioperative local anaesthetics are often used to reduce the postoperative pain in tonsillectomy. There exist three different ways of applying local anaesthetics: (1) pre-incisional peritonsillar; (2) post-tonsillectomy wound infiltration; (3) post-tonsillectomy packing with soaked gauze. The objective of the study is the evaluation of differences of pain reduction comparing the three different techniques of application.

Immune restoration in head and neck cancer patients after in vivo COX-2 inhibition.

Purpose: To determine the immunomodulatory effects of in vivo COX-2 inhibition on leukocyte infiltration and function in patients with head and neck cancer.

Experimental Design: Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck preoperatively received a specific COX-2 inhibitor (rofecoxib, 25 mg daily) orally for 3 weeks. Serum and tumor specimens were collected at the start of COX-2 inhibition (day 0) and again on the day of surgery (day 21).

Biodistribution and radioimmunotherapy of SCCHN in xenotransplantated SCID mice with a 131I-labelled anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibody.

Background: The mortality from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) remains high and almost unchanged throughout the last decades. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. One promising approach is the application of radio-labeled antibodies directed against tumor-associated antigens.

Limited suitability of EpCAM for molecular staging of tumor borders in head and neck cancer.

Background: The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is expressed in most normal epithelia, but is absent from squamous stratified epithelia. However, a de novo expression can be observed in squamous epithelia during carcinogenesis.

Materials And Methods: In order to evaluate EpCAM as a molecular marker to indicate borders of high risk for the development of local recurrences, its expression was examined in the marginal zone of malignancies.

Prednisolone reduces TNF-alpha release by PBMCs activated with a trifunctional bispecific antibody but not their anti-tumor activity.

Background: New adjuvant immunological therapies, that selectively redirect effector cells towards tumors, are currently under development. These strategies include trifunctional bispecific antibodies (trAb) as promising tools for the elimination of disseminated tumor cells and micrometastases. To date, these chimeric molecules have demonstrated their antitumor potential mainly in vitro.

Generation of an autologous cell system for immunotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: To date, there is no tumor antigen known to be sufficiently specific for diagnosis, therapy monitoring and immunotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The aim of our study was to generate an autologous immune response against SCCHN in vitro for further characterization of SCCHN-specific tumor markers and adoptive immunotherapy.

Materials And Methods: As sources for tumor antigens (Ags) for the restimulation of autologous immune cells, cell lines from solid SCCHN were established and characterized.

Liposomal transfection of squamous carcinoma cells of the head and neck with IL-2 and B7 plasmids inducing an autologous immune response in vitro.

New treatment strategies need to be developed to face the increasing incidence and mortality of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), as the overall survival rate remains poor, with minor therapeutic progress having been achieved over the past forty years. One major goal could be to restore a damaged immune system by intratumoral injection of IL-2-genes that permanently provide non-toxic IL-2-protein concentrations at the tumor site, sufficient to activate cellular immunity in vivo. We showed that the transfection of SCCHN cell lines with IL-2-plasmids, encapsulated in DOTMA/Col, in vitro resulted in the synthesis of bioactive IL-2-protein for up to 30 days by the tumor cells themselves.

Soluble CD44v6 is not a sensitive tumor marker in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Background: In some epithelial tumors, isoforms of CD44 are overexpressed and soluble isoforms detectable in serum samples are elevated. In squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) the alteration of CD44 isoforms could be associated with poor prognosis. A comprehensive study was undertaken to examine the value of CD44v6 as a tumor marker for SCCHN.

Subglottic tracheal stenosis as primary manifestation of a marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the larynx.

Background: More than 90% of laryngeal tumors are squamous cell carcinomas. Primary hematopoetic neoplasms of the larynx are rare, being mainly extramedullary plasmocytoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). These are mainly located in the supraglottic and glottic area, with only a few reported in the subglottic region.

Cytokeratin 8 associates with the external leaflet of plasma membranes in tumour cells.

We reported the identification of tumour-associated antigens from head and neck carcinomas, including cytokeratin 8 (CK8). These antigens were isolated based on the humoral immune response they elicit in vivo using the antibody-mediated identification of antigens technology. Unlike healthy squamous epithelium, tumour cells displayed CK8 at the plasma membrane.

Allogenic antibody-mediated identification of head and neck cancer antigens.

Recently, we described a new target-identification technology, autoantibody-mediated identification of antigens (AMIDA). AMIDA takes advantage of autologous serum autoantibodies to identify disease-associated antigens. Here, we evaluated the allogenic variant of AMIDA (allo-AMIDA), using permanent cancer cell lines as an antigen-pool rather than primary biopsy samples.