Locked Dimerized CXCL12 Exerts Radiosensitizing Effects in Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) presents significant treatment challenges, particularly in cases unrelated to human papillomavirus (HPV). The chemokine receptor CXCR4, interacting with its ligand CXCL12, plays a crucial role in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and treatment resistance. This study explores the therapeutic potential of engineered monomeric and dimerized CXCL12 variants (CXCL12 and CXCL12, respectively) in HNSCC and evaluates potential additive effects when combined with radiation therapy.

Neuromuscular junction dysfunction in Lafora disease.

Lafora disease (LD), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by mutations in the EPM2A gene encoding laforin phosphatase or NHLRC1 gene encoding malin ubiquitin ligase. LD symptoms include epileptic seizures, ataxia, dementia and cognitive decline. Studies on LD have primarily concentrated on the pathophysiology in the brain.

Type I interferon signaling promotes radioresistance in head and neck cancer.

Despite the promise of concurrent radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC), multiple randomized trials of this combination have had disappointing results. To evaluate potential immunologic mechanisms of RT resistance, we compared pre-treatment HNCs that developed RT resistance to a matched cohort that achieved curative status. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that a pre-treatment pro-immunogenic tumor microenvironment (TME), including type II interferon [interferon gamma (IFNγ)] and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) signaling, predicted cure while type I interferon [interferon alpha (IFNα)] enrichment was associated with an immunosuppressive TME found in tumors that went on to recur.

Imaging and Biomarker Surveillance for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria Statement.

Surveillance for survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) is focused on early detection of recurrent or second primary malignancies. After initial restaging confirms disease-free status, the use of surveillance imaging for asymptomatic patients with HNC is controversial. Our objective was to comprehensively review literature pertaining to imaging and biomarker surveillance of asymptomatic patients treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and to convene a multidisciplinary expert panel to provide appropriate use criteria for surveillance in representative clinical scenarios.

High-Grade Pneumonitis Events in Patients With Unresectable, Locally Advanced NSCLC Treated With Definitive Chemoradiation Followed by Adjuvant Durvalumab.

Background: The standard of care for unresectable locally advanced NSCLC is concurrent chemotherapy and radiation (CRT) followed by adjuvant durvalumab, established by the PACIFIC trial, which revealed acceptable although higher rates of pneumonitis with durvaluamb than placebo. We retrospectively reviewed patients with locally advanced NSCLC from 2018 to 2022 treated with definitive CRT (≥60 Gy) followed by at least one dose of adjuvant durvalumab.

Objective: To review the incidence of pneumonitis and contributing factors, and also to review grade 5 pneumonitis (G5) events.

Definitive Chemoradiation Associated with Improved Survival Outcomes in Patients with Synchronous Oligometastatic Esophageal Cancer.

Background: The study of oligometastatic esophageal cancer (EC) is relatively new. Preliminary data suggests that more aggressive treatment regimens in select patients may improve survival rates in oligometastatic EC. However, the consensus recommends palliative treatment.

Clinical Impact and Accuracy of Shave Biopsy for Initial Diagnosis of Cutaneous Melanoma.

Introduction: Effective treatment of malignant melanomas is dependent upon accurate histopathological staging of preoperative biopsy specimens. While narrow excision is the gold standard for melanoma diagnosis, superficial shave biopsies have become the preferred method by dermatologists but may transect the lesion and result in inaccurate Breslow thickness assessment. This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating an initial method of biopsy for diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma and indication for reoperation based on inaccurate initial T-staging.

Treatment Patterns in Women Age 80 and Over With DCIS: A Report From the National Cancer Database.

Background: Despite an aging population, there are no established treatment guidelines for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) age ≥80. Here we describe national treatment patterns and survival outcomes in older women with DCIS.

Patients And Methods: Women age ≥80 diagnosed with DCIS from 2005 to 2014 were identified using the National Cancer Database.

Chronic stress promotes an immunologic inflammatory state and head and neck cancer growth in a humanized murine model.

Background: Despite the importance of immune response and environmental stress on head and neck cancer (HNC) outcomes, no current pre-clinical stress model includes a humanized immune system.

Methods: We investigated the effects of chronic stress induced by social isolation on tumor growth and human immune response in subcutaneous HNC tumors grown in NSG-SGM3 mice engrafted with a human immune system.

Results: Tumor growth (p < 0.

General and custom deep learning autosegmentation models for organs in head and neck, abdomen, and male pelvis.

Purpose: To reduce workload and inconsistencies in organ segmentation for radiation treatment planning, we developed and evaluated general and custom autosegmentation models on computed tomography (CT) for three major tumor sites using a well-established deep convolutional neural network (DCNN).

Methods: Five CT-based autosegmentation models for 42 organs at risk (OARs) in head and neck (HN), abdomen (ABD), and male pelvis (MP) were developed using a full three-dimensional (3D) DCNN architecture. Two types of deep learning (DL) models were separately trained using either general diversified multi-institutional datasets or custom well-controlled single-institution datasets.

Invasive Breast Cancer Treatment Patterns in Women Age 80 and Over: A Report from the National Cancer Database.

Background: There are no established treatment guidelines for women with breast cancer aged ≥80 despite increasing representation in the US population. Here we identify national treatment patterns and survival outcomes in women with stage I-III invasive breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Women age ≥80 diagnosed with stage I-III invasive breast cancer (IBC) were identified from 2005-2014 in the National Cancer Database.

The Substantial Omission of Indicated Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Advanced-Stage Oral Cancer in the US-A Call to Action.

This cohort study aims to identify factors associated with omission of adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy in patients with advanced-stage oral squamous cell cancers in the US.

Clinical Implementation and Initial Experience of Real-Time Motion Tracking With Jaws and Multileaf Collimator During Helical Tomotherapy Delivery.

Purpose: This work reports the clinical implementation of a real-time motion tracking and correction system using dynamic multileaf collimator and jaws during helical tomotherapy delivery (Synchrony on Radixact; Accuray, Inc).

Methods And Materials: The first clinical Synchrony on Radixact system was recently installed and tested at our institution. Various clinical workflows, including fiducial implantation, computed tomography simulation, treatment planning, delivery quality assurance, treatment simulation, and delivery, for both fiducial-free and fiducial-based motion tracking methods were developed.

Patient-Centric Head and Neck Cancer Radiation Therapy: Role of Advanced Imaging.

The traditional 'one-size-fits-all' approach to H&N cancer therapy is archaic. Advanced imaging can identify radioresistant areas by using biomarkers that detect tumor hypoxia, hypercellularity etc. Highly conformal radiotherapy can target resistant areas with precision.

Lymph node yield, depth of invasion, and survival in node-negative oral cavity cancer.

Objective: To determine the effects of nodal yield on survival in early stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) in the context of primary tumor depth of invasion (DOI).

Materials And Methods: Patients with early-stage clinically node-negative OCSCC who underwent upfront surgery at the primary site were identified using the National Cancer Database between 2004 and 2015.

Results: There were 3384 patients with <4 mm DOI and 1387 patients with ≥4 mm DOI identified.

Intermediate-grade carcinoma of the parotid and the impact of adjuvant radiation.

Purpose: To determine the influence of adjuvant radiotherapy on survival in surgically-managed early stage intermediate-grade mucoepidermoid and acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid.

Materials And Methods: The National Cancer Database was reviewed between 2004 and 2015 to identify patients with intermediate-grade, early T-stage, node-negative parotid carcinoma who underwent parotidectomy ± radiotherapy.

Results: There were 744 patients identified of which 81% had mucoepidermoid carcinoma and 19% had acinic cell carcinoma.

Lymph node yield from neck dissection in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer.

Objectives: To determine the influence of nodal yield during neck dissection on survival in surgically managed human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with HPV-associated tumor T1 to T2 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent upfront surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Patients were stratified by lymph node yield (<26 vs.

Salvage of Recurrence after Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy: A Multi-institutional Study.

Objectives: To determine the oncologic outcomes of patients undergoing salvage surgery for recurrent oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) after initial treatment with surgery and adjuvant therapy.

Study Design: Retrospective case series with chart review.

Setting: Five academic tertiary care centers.