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.

Differential expression of topoisomerase IIalpha protein in salivary gland carcinomas: histogenetic and prognostic implications.

Background: Salivary gland carcinomas are relatively uncommon heterogeneous malignancies characterized by locoregional invasion and distant metastasis. Topoisomerase IIalpha (topoIIalpha), located at chromosome 17q21-22, is considered a major mediator of cell proliferation and DNA replication. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of topoIIalpha in various types of salivary gland tumors and its biological significance.

[Treatment results of chemotherapy with S-1 for head and neck cancer].

A study of chemotherapy treatment with S-1 in patients with head and neck cancer was conducted in 20 patients with residual tumor after primary chemoradiotherapy, or recurrent tumors. Treatment courses consisted of oral administration of S-1 at a dose of 80 to 120 mg/day depending on the body surface area for 14 consecutive day followed by a 7- day rest period. The response rate in patients with residual tumors after primary chemoradiotherapy was 55.

Effects of small interfering RNA targeting thymidylate synthase on survival of ACC3 cells from salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Background: Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an important target for chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer and high expression of TS has been associated with poor prognosis or refractory disease in several cancers including colorectal and head and neck cancer. Although TS is known to regulate cell cycles and transcription factors, its potency as a therapeutic target has not been fully explored in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

Methods: An ACC cell line (ACC3) was transfected with siRNA targeting the TS gene and inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis-associated molecules were evaluated in vitro.

Simvastatin inactivates beta1-integrin and extracellular signal-related kinase signaling and inhibits cell proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells.

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitors, also called statins, are commonly used as lipid-lowering drugs that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. An anticancer effect, as a pleiotropic function of certain statins, has been hypothesized. In the present study, we investigated the effect of simvastatin, one of the natural statins, on cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasive activity, and molecular expressions associated with cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, signal transduction, and DNA synthesis in Tu167 and JMAR cells from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Salivary gland carcinoma treated with concomitant chemoradiation with intraarterial cisplatin and docetaxel.

Malignant neoplasms of the salivary gland are uncommon entities in which surgical resection of the primary lesion has been accepted as a standard therapeutic option. The efficacy of radiation and systemic chemotherapy has been limited for patients with recurrent, metastatic, or unresectable disease because of unfavorable response rates and the short duration of the response. We treated one patient with recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma arising from the sublingual gland and one patient with primary adenocarcinoma arising from the parotid gland with transfemoral intraarterial chemotherapy, based on full-dose cisplatin and docetaxel and concurrent external-beam radiotherapy.