Phosphorylation of the smooth muscle master splicing regulator RBPMS regulates its splicing activity.

We previously identified RBPMS as a master regulator of alternative splicing in differentiated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). RBPMS is transcriptionally downregulated during SMC dedifferentiation, but we hypothesized that RBPMS protein activity might be acutely downregulated by post-translational modifications. Publicly available phosphoproteomic datasets reveal that Thr113 and Thr118 immediately adjacent to the RRM domain are commonly both phosphorylated.

Factors affecting long-term survival in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer may help define the role of post-treatment surveillance.

Objectives/hypothesis: Assess impact of clinical variables upon survival in patients diagnosed with recurrent head and neck carcinoma and better delineate role of post-treatment surveillance.

Methods: Variables including previous tumor site, stage, prior therapy, location of recurrence, patient-identified symptoms, compliance with recommended surveillance, definitive salvage therapy, and clinical outcome were recorded for patients diagnosed with recurrent head and neck cancer from which estimates of survival were generated and compared.

Results: One hundred five patients were identified as having been diagnosed with recurrent disease.