Prevalence of HPV infection in head and neck carcinomas shows geographical variability: a comparative study from Brazil and Germany.

Rising prevalence rates of high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) infection in oropharyngeal carcinoma (up to 80 %) have been reported in North America and Scandinavia. We have analysed 424 German and 163 Brazilian head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) from the oral cavity (OSCC), oropharynx (OPSCC) and hypopharynx (HPSCC) using p16 immunohistochemistry, HPV DNA PCR and sequencing, hrHPV DNA in situ hybridisation (ISH) and hrHPV E6/E7 RNA ISH. In the German series, 52/424 cases (12.

A phase II study of second-line neoadjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and radiation therapy for anthracycline-resistant locally advanced breast cancer.

Objective: According to data from Brazil's National Cancer Institute nearly 30% of the new patients who present with breast cancer have locally advanced disease. These patients are inoperable and tumor reduction is usually attempted with chemotherapy. First-line anthracyclin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is often effective; however, about 30% of the patients fail and to date there is no established second-line treatment.

Patterns of failure and outcome in esthesioneuroblastoma.

Objectives: To evaluate the results of standardized treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) during a 17-year period and to identify pertinent factors for clinical outcome.

Design: Review of clinical and radiographic data and retrospectively staging ENB according to 3 staging systems: Kadish, Biller, and Dulguerov and Calcaterra.

Setting: Hospital do Cancer I-Instituto Nacional de Cancer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.