Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Patients With Advanced Laryngeal Cancer Undergoing Bioselection.

Objective: Bioselection to assess tumor response after induction chemotherapy has been introduced as an alternative treatment strategy to total laryngectomy for patients with advanced larynx squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have proven to serve as prognostic biomarkers in head and neck cancer but have not been evaluated as a way to select patients for treatment paradigms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of pretreatment TILs in patients with advanced LSCC undergoing the bioselection paradigm.

Impact of Completion Lymphadenectomy on Quality of Life for Head and Neck Cutaneous Melanoma.

Objective: Recent randomized data suggest that completion lymph node dissection after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) improves locoregional control but does not improve survival for melanoma patients. Locoregional recurrences of head and neck cutaneous melanoma (HNCM) may result in significant morbidity. A better understanding of morbidity is thus important to inform decisions about whether to pursue completion neck dissection (ND).

Long-term neck and shoulder function among survivors of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiation as assessed with the neck dissection impairment index.

Background: Of interest is the long-term neck and shoulder impairment of patients treated with primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT). This is important for counseling patients regarding treatment decisions when discussing primary CRT.

Methods: A cross-sectional study to identify factors that contribute to neck and shoulder dysfunction in patients treated with primary CRT.

Virus-positive Merkel Cell Carcinoma Is an Independent Prognostic Group with Distinct Predictive Biomarkers.

Purpose: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that can be divided into two classes: virus-positive (VP) MCC, associated with oncogenic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV); and virus-negative (VN) MCC, associated with photodamage.

Experimental Design: We classified 346 MCC tumors from 300 patients for MCPyV using a combination of IHC, ISH, and qPCR assays. In a subset of tumors, we profiled mutation status and expression of cancer-relevant genes.

CT and FDG-PET radiologic biomarkers in p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: To assess associations between imaging biomarkers from standard of care pre-treatment CT and FDG-PET scans and locoregional (LR) and distant metastatic (DM) recurrences in patients with p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: An institutional database from a single NCI-designated cancer center identified 266 patients with p16+ OPSCC treated with definitive CRT in our department from 2005 to 2016 with evaluable pre-treatment FDG-PET scans. Quantitative SUV metrics and qualitative imaging metrics were determined from FDG-PET and CT scans, while clinical characteristics were abstracted from the medical record.

Dual-Isolation and Profiling of Circulating Tumor Cells and Cancer Exosomes from Blood Samples with Melanoma Using Immunoaffinity-Based Microfluidic Interfaces.

Melanoma is among the most aggressive cancers, and its rate of incidence continues to grow. Early detection of melanoma has been hampered due to the lack of promising markers for testing. Recent advances in liquid biopsy have proposed noninvasive alternatives for cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

Functional outcomes and tracheostomy dependence following salvage oropharyngeal surgery.

Purpose:: Salvage surgical treatment of oropharyngeal cancer is associated with significant morbidity. We aim to identify predictive factors of functional outcomes to improve patient selection and counseling when contemplating salvage oropharyngectomy.

Methods:: Patients with a history of radiation requiring salvage oropharyngeal surgery were identified.

Predictors of survival in patients undergoing oropharyngeal surgery for cancer recurrence after radiation therapy.

Purpose: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma continues to rise with the majority of patients receiving definitive or adjunctive radiation. For patients with locoregional recurrence after radiation, optimal treatment involves salvage surgery. The aim of this study is to identify factors that predict survival to ultimately improve patient selection for salvage surgery.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Melanoma: Long-term Outcomes, Prognostic Value, Accuracy, and Safety.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for head and neck cutaneous melanoma (HNCM).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

Institutional Experience of Treatment and Outcomes for Cutaneous Periauricular Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: To report our institutional experience, management, and outcomes of cutaneous periauricular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary academic center.

Cranial nerve outcomes in regionally recurrent head & neck melanoma after sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Objective: Characterize long-term cranial nerve (CN) outcomes following sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) based management for head and neck cutaneous melanoma (HNCM).

Methods: Longitudinal review of HNCM patients undergoing SLNB from 1997-2007.

Results: Three hundred fifty-six patients were identified, with mean age 53.

Assessment of Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring Parameters Associated With Facial Nerve Outcome in Parotidectomy for Benign Disease.

Importance: Prior studies suggest that the use of facial nerve monitoring decreases the rate of immediate postoperative facial nerve weakness in parotid surgery, but published data are lacking on normative values for these parameters or cutoff values to prognosticate facial nerve outcomes.

Objective: To identify intraoperative facial nerve monitoring parameters associated with postoperative weakness and to evaluate cutoff values for these parameters under which normal nerve function is more likely.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective case series of 222 adult patients undergoing parotid surgery for benign disease performed with intraoperative nerve monitoring was conducted at an academic medical institution from September 13, 2004, to October 30, 2014.

Soy Isoflavone Supplementation Increases Long Interspersed Nucleotide Element-1 (LINE-1) Methylation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Aim: Soy isoflavones have been suggested as epigenetic modulating agents with effects that could be important in carcinogenesis. Hypomethylation of LINE-1 has been associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development from oral premalignant lesions and with poor prognosis. To determine if neoadjuvant soy isoflavone supplementation could modulate LINE-1 methylation in HNSCC, we undertook a clinical trial.

Elective Paratracheal Lymph Node Dissection in Salvage Laryngectomy.

Background: Indications for and efficacy of paratracheal nodal dissection (PTND) in patients undergoing laryngectomy (salvage) for persistent or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma are not well-defined.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed for patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy with clinically and radiographically negative neck disease between 1998 and 2015 (n = 210). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed.

Impact of American Joint Committee on Cancer Eighth Edition clinical stage and smoking history on oncologic outcomes in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the AJCC eighth edition clinical staging system for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to further understand how clinical stage and smoking history affect oncologic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to present the understanding of how clinical stage and smoking history affect oncologic outcomes in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is critical for selecting patients for treatment deintensification.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used to evaluate overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS).

Completion Lymph Node Dissection or Radiation Therapy for Sentinel Node Metastasis in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Background: For sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis from Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), the benefit of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) versus radiation therapy (RT) is unclear. This study compares outcomes for patients with SLN metastasis undergoing CLND or RT. We also evaluated positive non-SLNs as a prognostic factor.

Mutational profiles of persistent/recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We sought to describe targeted DNA sequencing data of persistent/recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and to compare gene-specific alteration frequencies with that of primary, untreated LSCC specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Methods: The tumors of 21 patients with persistent/recurrent LSCC were subjected to targeted DNA sequencing using the Ion AmpliSeq Comprehensive Cancer Panel. Gene-specific alteration frequencies were compared (Chi-Square test) to primary, untreated LSCC sequencing data from TCGA using the cBioPortal platform.

Analysis of tumor-infiltrating CD103 resident memory T-cell content in recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) are associated with poor outcomes, without reliable biomarkers to identify patients who may benefit from adjuvant therapies. Given the emergence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as a biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, we generated predictive models to understand the utility of CD4, CD8 and/or CD103 TIL status in patients with advanced LSCC.

Methods: Tissue microarrays were constructed from salvage laryngectomy specimens of 183 patients with recurrent/persistent LSCC and independently stained for CD4, CD8, and CD103 TIL content.