Phase II trial of combination treatment with S-1/cetuximab in patients with platinum-ineligible recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The standard of care for first-line treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN) in patients who cannot tolerate platinum-based regimens has not been clarified. We aimed to develop a new treatment regimen for patients with R/M SCCHN who are ineligible for platinum-based therapy, by evaluating the effects and safety of tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) and cetuximab.

Methods: Platinum-ineligibility was defined as: elderly (aged ≥ 75 years), poor PS, comorbidity, platinum resistance and refusal to undergo platinum-based therapy.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis in the Northern Japan Head and Neck Cancer Society.

Conclusion: The 3-year progression-free survival rate of non-invasive salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) or adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS) was significantly better than that of invasive SDC or adenocarcinoma NOS in Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA). The presence of invasion is an important prognostic factor for SDC and adenocarcinoma NOS in CXPA.

Objectives: CXPA is a rare parotid gland malignant tumor for which therapy is not yet standardized.

Laryngeal neuroma in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2 syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by mutations of the RET proto-oncogene, and is clinically divided into three phenotypes: MEN2A, MEN2B, and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. Although multiple mucosal neuromas are commonly observed in patients with MEN2B, there are only a few reports of laryngeal neuroma. We present here a rare case of laryngeal mucosal neuromas with MEN2B.

Effects of cholesterol alterations are mediated via G-protein-related pathways in outer hair cells.

Cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes, and determines their rigidity and fluidity. Alterations in membrane cholesterol by MβCD or water-soluble cholesterol affect the stiffness, capacitance, motility, and cell length of outer hair cells (OHCs). This suggests that reconstruction of the cytoskeleton may be induced by cholesterol alterations.

The role of periostin in eosinophilic otitis media.

Conclusion: We investigated the localization of periostin in middle ear specimens from patients with eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) and from a newly constructed animal model for EOM. Periostin-positive immunostaining was observed in the middle ear sections obtained from the EOM patients. Immunoreactivity for periostin was also seen in the animal model.

Developmental expression of the outer hair cell motor prestin in the mouse.

The development of motor protein activity in the lateral membrane of the mouse outer hair cell (OHC) from postnatal day 5 (P5) to P18 was investigated under whole-cell voltage clamp. Voltage-dependent, nonlinear capacitance (C (v)), which represents the conformational fluctuations of the motor molecule, progressively increased during development. At P12, the onset of hearing in the mouse, C (v) was about 70% of the mature level.