p62/SQSTM1 levels predicts radiotherapy resistance in hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the worst prognostic malignancies among head and neck carcinomas. Therefore, a good biomarker should be identified to predict the best therapeutic option before starting the treatment. In cell models, p62/SQSTM1 levels affected the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, ROS levels, GSH/GSSG ratios and cell growth, especially under irradiation rather than under CDDP exposure, which was toxic despite p62/SQSTM1 status.

Aberrant Myosin 1b Expression Promotes Cell Migration and Lymph Node Metastasis of HNSCC.

Unlabelled: Lymph node metastasis is the major clinicopathologic feature associated with poor prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here, web-based bioinformatics meta-analysis was performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of lymph node metastasis of human HNSCC. Preferential upregulation of Myosin 1b (MYO1B) transcript in HNSCC datasets was identified.

Does a vascular supercharge improve the clinical outcome for free jejunal transfer?

To clarify whether a supercharged free jejunal transfer would have a different clinical outcome from the usual transfer method, we examined clinical data from cases of esophago-pharyngeal reconstruction. Fifty-three patients in whom the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus was reconstructed with a free jejunal transfer were divided into two groups: 19 normal procedures and 34 supercharged. Clinical outcomes including intraoperative and postoperative events, complications and deglutition were compared statistically.

Successful retrograde arterial inflow through a muscular branch in a free anterolateral thigh chimeric flap transfer.

In this report, we present a case in which a free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap was transferred for head and neck reconstruction after oropharyngeal cancer ablation, and a retrograde arterial inflow was used to salvage the flap when the main arterial pedicle showed usual repeated spasms. The flap was raised as a chimera flap comprising a fasciocutaneous flap and a vastus lateralis muscle flap. After reperfusion, the pedicle artery exhibited spasms repeatedly and vascular flow was unstable.

Prognostic significance of RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 in salivary gland cancers.

Unlabelled: 7

Background: No generally agreed-upon method is available for predicting the prognosis of salivary gland cancers. RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1) is a positive regulator for the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB1) pathway, and is a suitable marker for evaluating the clinical course of breast cancer. We investigated whether RB1CC1 predicts the prognosis of salivary gland cancers.

RB1CC1 activates the p16 promoter through the interaction with hSNF5.

RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1, also known as FIP200) is involved in dephosphorylation and increase of retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB1), but the RB1CC1 molecular mechanism in the dephosphorylation of RB1 is not fully understood. We determined that RB1CC1 activates the expression of p16 (also called INK4a/CDKN2a) through the activation of its promoter, using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and p16 promoter-luciferase reporter assays. In addition, RB1CC1 essentially requires binding with hSNF5 (also known as BAF47/INI1, a chromatin-remodeling factor) to activate the p16 promoter, in order to enhance the RB1 pathway and acts as a tumor suppressor.

RECQL1 and WRN proteins are potential therapeutic targets in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

RECQL1 and WRN proteins are RecQ DNA helicases that participate in suppression of DNA hyper-recombination and repair. In this study, we report evidence supporting their candidacy as cancer therapeutic targets. In hypopharyngeal carcinomas, which have the worst prognosis among head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) that are rapidly rising in incidence, we found that RECQL1 and WRN proteins are highly expressed and that siRNA-mediated silencing of either gene suppressed carcinoma cell growth in vitro.

Interleukin-28B acts synergistically with cisplatin to suppress the growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Interleukin-28B (IL-28B), also referred to as interferon-λ3, belongs to the type III interferon family. Earlier studies showed that IL-28B suppresses proliferation of some tumor cells in vitro. IL-28B gene transfection ex vivo also resulted in growth retardation of tumor cells in mice, through either direct antiproliferative action or induction of antitumor immunity.

RB1CC1 together with RB1 and p53 predicts long-term survival in Japanese breast cancer patients.

RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1) plays a significant role in the enhancement of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB1) pathway and is involved in breast cancer development. However, RB1CC1's role in clinical progression of breast cancer has not yet been evaluated, so, as a first step, it is necessary to establish its usefulness as a tool to evaluate breast cancer patients. In this report, we have analyzed the correlation between abnormalities in the RB1CC1 pathway and long-term prognosis, because disease-specific death in later periods (>5 years) of the disease is a serious problem in breast cancer.

RB1CC1 activates RB1 pathway and inhibits proliferation and cologenic survival in human cancer.

RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1, also known as FIP200) plays a role in the enhancement of the RB1 pathway through the direct binding to a GC-rich region 201bp upstream (from the initiation ATG) of the RB1 promoter. Here, we identified hSNF5 and p53 as the binding partners of RB1CC1 by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. Interaction between these molecules and the RB1 pathway was analyzed by the assays of chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase-reporter, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot.

Blood gas analyses in doubly-vascularised free jejunal transfers.

The vascular supercharge (additional microvascular anastomosis) has rarely been used for free flaps, and the blood circulation in the transferred tissue has not been recorded. We have made double vascular anastomoses during free jejunal transfer to reduce the possibility of loss of the flap from vascular occlusion. To evaluate the efficacy of additional arterial and venous anastomoses to improve the circulation in the transferred tissue, we analysed the results of blood gas measurements including venous partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂) and carbon dioxide (pCO₂) from the distal arcade vein.

Expression of CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: We tried to clarify the correlation of the expression of CCR7 and CXCR4 with lymph node and distant metastasis.

Materials And Methods: We examined expression of CCR7 and CXCR4 in 9 HNSCC cell lines and 25 HNSCC tissues by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry study. We examined the expression levels of CCR7 and CXCR4 in undifferentiated and differentiated human normal keratinocyte.

Double arterialized free jejunal flap.

In a standard free jejunal transfer, one artery and one vein are anastomosed. However, when raising the jejunal flap, a one-segment jejunum sometimes has two arteries and one accompanying vein as a vascular pedicle. Free jejunal transfer in which two arteries and one vein are anastomosed was designed.

Double vascular anastomosis in the neck for reliable free jejunal transfer.

To reduce the possibility of necrosis in free jejunal transfer after total pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy, we made a second set of arterial and venous anastomoses in addition to the usual cervical arterial and venous anastomoses. To obtain two different arterial flows (carotid and subclavian systems), the recipient arteries were the superior thyroid and the transverse cervical. For venous flow, the internal and external jugular veins were used.

Angioedema: 6 years experience with fourteen cases.

Objective: To study the difference in the findings between the causes of angioedema and the characteristics of angioedema induced by angiotensin receptor II blockers (ARBs), and to investigate whether laboratory examinations for acute phase inflammatory markers can aid in diagnosis and predict airway risk.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed fourteen cases of patients with angioedema that were treated from 2000 to 2006. Data were collected regarding age, sex, location of the edema, cause, time course of resolution and laboratory examinations (leukocyte counts, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, complement function and the activity of C1 esterase inhibitor).

RB1CC1 activates the promoter and expression of RB1 in human cancer.

RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1, also known as FIP200) is a tumor suppressor implicated in the regulation of RB1 (retinoblastoma 1) expression. However, the molecular mechanism of RB1 regulation by RB1CC1 has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear RB1CC1 binds to the RB1 promoter using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with anti-RB1CC1 antibody.

Interleukin-27 activates natural killer cells and suppresses NK-resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Interleukin (IL)-27 is an IL-12 family cytokine playing a pivotal role in the induction of Th1 immune responses, although its action on natural killer (NK) cells has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that IL-27 is capable of inducing phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 and 3, as well as expression of T-bet and granzyme B in murine DX-5+ NK cells. IL-27 also enhances cytotoxic activity of NK cells both in vitro and in vivo, while the in vitro viability of NK cells is also improved by this cytokine.

Multiple myeloma involving the thyroid cartilage.

Multiple myeloma, solitary plasmacytoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma constitute a continuous disease spectrum of plasma cell neoplasms. In the larynx, although extramedullary plasmacytoma in the supraglottic region has been sometimes reported, plasma cell neoplasm with involvement of the thyroid cartilage is extremely rare. We report a case of multiple myeloma involving the thyroid cartilage.

A case of severe dilatation of the parotid duct due to fibrinous sialodochitis.

A 50-year-old woman presented with a 10-year history of swelling of the left cheek during and after meals. She regularly pushed the cheek hard to decrease the swelling by excreting the saliva. She did not have pain or fever.

Interleukin-21 triggers both cellular and humoral immune responses leading to therapeutic antitumor effects against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) plays important roles in the regulation of T, B, and natural killer (NK) cells. We hypothesized that the cytokine may provide a novel immunotherapy strategy for cancer by stimulating both Th1 and Th2 immune responses. In this context, antitumor immunity induced by IL-21 was examined in mice bearing subcutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Activation of pro-MMP-2 mediated by MT1-MMP in human salivary gland carcinomas: possible regulation of pro-MMP-2 activation by TIMP-2.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, are considered to play important roles in cancer invasion and metastasis. The present study examined the production levels of eight different MMPs (MMP-1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 and 13, and MT1-MMP) and two tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and 2) in homogenates of human salivary gland carcinomas [mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs), adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs), and adenocarcinomas (ADEs)] and non-neoplastic control salivary glands using sandwich enzyme immunoassay systems. The levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-13, MT1-MMP, and TIMP-1 were significantly higher in the carcinoma samples than in the controls (p < 0.

Enhanced production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in human head and neck carcinomas is correlated with lymph node metastasis.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 degrade type IV collagen, which is one of the major components of the basement membrane in normal tissue and expressed in the surroundings of the cancer nest in squamous cell carcinoma. The degeneration of type IV collagen is an essential step in the metastasis to lymph nodes and distant organs. In this study, we examined MMP-2 and -9 levels of cancer tissue and serum obtained from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in order to evaluate the relationship between the clinicopathologic features and MMPs.

Two-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies for detection of soluble and membrane-associated human membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase.

A two-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for the detection of human membrane Type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) was established by using two monoclonal antibodies against recombinant MT1-MMP. MT1-MMP in which samples were reacted with solid-phase antibody and then detected with peroxidase-labeled second antibody. At least 1.