Lymph node ratio (LNR) and lymph node yield (LNY) in head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: A growing amount of evidence points at lymph node yield (LNY) and lymph node ratio (LNR) as useful indicators in the prognostic evaluation of patients affected by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who require neck dissection. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of LNY and LNR in the prognostic evaluation of head and neck cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Included studies were those examining LNY and/or LNR in head and neck cancer patients.

The landscape of circulating tumor HPV DNA and TTMV-HPVDNA for surveillance of HPV-oropharyngeal carcinoma: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) related cancers of the oropharynx are rapidly increasing in incidence and may soon represent the majority of all head and neck cancers. Improved monitoring and surveillance methods are thus an urgent need in public health.

Main Text: The goal is to highlight the current potential and limitations of liquid biopsy through a meta analytic study on ctHPVDNA and TTMV-HPVDNA.

Circulating tumor HPV DNA in the management of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer and its correlation with MRI.

Background: First aim was to compare ddPCR assays of ctHPVDNA with p16 IHC and qualitative HPV PCR. Second aim was to carry out longitudinal blood sampling to test for association of ctHPVDNA with histological confirmed recurrence. Third aim was to perform a multidimensional assessment which included: (1) clinical features; (2) ctHPVDNA; (3) MRI-based tumor size measurements of primary tumor (PT) and cervical lymph node metastases (CLNM).

A multicenter protocol to assess the prognostic significance of the tumor microenvironment in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Background: The purpose of this multicenter study was to retrospectively investigate the prognostic significance of the tumor microenvironment, in relation to survival in a large cohort of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), using the method proposed by the International TILs Working Group in breast cancer.

Methods: All consecutive patients with biopsy-proven LSCC who underwent total laryngectomy (TL) between January 2014 and January 2023 were retrospectively included in the study. A retrospective review of medical records including surgical, pathological and follow-up reports was performed.

Role of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and the Tumor Microenvironment in the Survival of Malignant Parotid Gland Tumors: A Two-Centre Retrospective Analysis of 107 Patients.

This study aims to retrospectively investigate the prognostic significance of the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes), in relation to survival in a large cohort of patients with parotid gland cancer, and it uses the method proposed by the International TILs Working Group in breast cancer. We included a cohort of consecutive patients with biopsy-proven parotid cancer who underwent surgery between January 2010 and September 2023. A retrospective review of medical records, including surgical, pathological and follow-up reports, was performed.

Myopericytoma: a rare case of parapharyngeal localization.

This case study presents a 66-year-old man referred to the Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery department due to a one-history of persistent pain in the left posterior cervical region. No abnormalities were detected in the oral and pharyngeal regions during clinical and endoscopic examinations. Subsequently, a magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion (14 × 12 × 14 mm) into the left parapharyngeal space, with high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, enhancement after contrast medium, restricted signal on diffusion weighted imaging and high vascularization on perfusion MRI.

Combined TP53 status in tumor-free resection margins and circulating microRNA profiling predicts the risk of locoregional recurrence in head and neck cancer.

Locoregional recurrences represent a frequently unexpected problem in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Relapse often (10-30%) occurs in patients with histologically negative resection margins (RMs), probably due to residual tumor cells or hidden pre-cancerous lesions in normal mucosa, both missed by histopathological examination. Therefore, definition of a 'clean' or tumor-negative RM is controversial, demanding for novel approaches to be accurately explored.

Management of nasal vestibule carcinomas: recommendations by the Oncological Committee of the Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

Objective: Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule (NV SCC) is a head and neck malignancy for which there is no established consensus on most aspects of clinical management. The purpose of this document is to give updated recommendations that incorporate recent evidence on its clinical characteristics and the high efficacy of brachytherapy as primary treatment modality.

Methods: A working group consisting of the members of the Scientific Committee for Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery of the Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and radiation oncologists expert in brachytherapy was formed to achieve a consensus.

Dynamics of humoral and cellular response to three doses of anti-SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with hematological malignancies and older subjects.

Background: Few data are available about the durability of the response, the induction of neutralizing antibodies, and the cellular response upon the third dose of the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine in hemato-oncological patients.

Objective: To investigate the antibody and cellular response to the BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with hematological malignancy.

Methods: We measured SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies, anti- neutralizing antibodies, and T-cell responses 1 month after the third dose of vaccine in 93 fragile patients with hematological malignancy (FHM), 51 fragile not oncological subjects (FNO) aged 80-92, and 47 employees of the hospital (healthcare workers, (HW), aged 23-66 years.

Immunosignatures associated with TP53 status and co-mutations classify prognostically head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a therapeutic strategy for various cancers although only a subset of patients respond to the therapy. Identifying patients more prone to respond to ICIs may increase the therapeutic benefit and allow studying new approaches for resistant patients.

Methods: We analyzed the TCGA cohort of HNSCC patients in relation to their activation of 26 immune gene expression signatures, as well as their cell type composition, in order to define signaling pathways associated with resistance to ICIs.

Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity with Perineural Invasion.

Objective: Current guidelines indicate postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with perineural invasion (PNI), however, its real benefit has never been proven. The aim of our study is to investigate the benefit of PORT in OSCC patients with PNI in terms of survival and disease control.

Data Sources: The Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases.

It is time to improve the diagnostic workup of oropharyngeal cancer with circulating tumor HPV DNA: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The possibility of detecting circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) in plasma in patients with oropharyngeal cancer has been demonstrated in several reports. However, these data are from small cohorts and available tests for detection of ctHPVDNA are not fully validated. The aim is to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ctHPVDNA by ddPCR to define its efficacy in the clinical setting for the diagnosis of HPV + OPSCC.

Magnetic resonance imaging-based prediction models for tumor stage and cervical lymph node metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of preoperative MRI-based measurements to predict the pathological T (pT) stage and cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) via machine learning (ML)-driven models trained in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).

Materials And Methods: 108 patients with a new diagnosis of OTSCC were enrolled. The preoperative MRI study included post-contrast high-resolution T1-weighted images acquired in all patients.

Second primary carcinoma arising on a flap: a new primary or a relapse?

Free flaps or pedicle flaps are the mainstay of cancer surgery in the head and neck area. However, their long-term sequelae are still poorly understood. Among these, the development of a secondary primary tumor on a flap is a rare and uncertain reported event.

Impact of lymph node ratio and number of lymph node metastases on survival and recurrence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of lymph node ratio (LNR) and number of positive lymph nodes (NPLN) on mortality and recurrence rates in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter international study involving 24 Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery divisions. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated as the main outcomes.

Machine learning in laryngeal cancer: A pilot study to predict oncological outcomes and the role of adverse features.

Background: Laryngeal carcinoma (LC) remains a significant economic and emotional problem to the healthcare system and severe social morbidity. New tools as Machine Learning could allow clinicians to develop accurate and reproducible treatments.

Methods: This study aims to evaluate the performance of a ML-algorithm in predicting 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) in a cohort of patients surgical treated for LC.

Trans oral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: A multi institutional experience.

Objectives: Trans Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has proved to be a safe and feasible treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The aim of this study is to analyse oncological outcomes of OPSCC patients treated with TORS.

Materials And Methods: This study involved 139 patients with OPSCC, treated with TORS between 2008 and 2020.

Submandibular gland involvement in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter study.

Background: The submandibular gland (SMG) is routinely excised during neck dissection. Given the importance of the SMG in saliva production, it is important to understand its involvement rate by cancer tissue and the feasibility of its preservation.

Methods: Retrospective data were collected from five academic centers in Europe.

Transoral Laser Microsurgery in Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the oncological outcomes of salvage transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in the treatment of patients suffering from recurrent laryngeal cancer.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched. English language, original studies investigating oncological outcomes of TLM in adult patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer were included.

Treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Is swallowing quality better after TORS or RT?

Background And Purpose: To answer an important question regarding the long-term morbidity of two oncological equivalent treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), namely a comparison of swallowing function results between patients treated with trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) versus patients treated with radiotherapy (RT).

Materials And Methods: Studies included patients with OPSCC treated with TORS or RT. Articles reporting complete data on MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and comparing the two treatments (TORS vs RT) were included in the meta-analysis.

Microenvironmental Factors in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Surgery: Correlation with Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

Background: In this prospective study, we hypothesized that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may represent not only the tumor but also the microenvironment, reflecting the heterogeneity and microstructural complexity of neoplasms. We investigated the correlation between both diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI with the pathological factors in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Methods: A total of 37 patients with newly diagnosed OSCCs underwent an MR examination on a 3T system.