Direct healthcare costs of oral cancer: A retrospective study from a tertiary care center.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the direct costs of OSCC treatment and postsurgical surveillance in a tertiary hospital in northeast Italy. Sixty-three consecutive patients surgically treated for primitive OSCC at S. Orsola Hospital in Bologna (Italy) between January 2018 and January 2020 were analyzed.

Thirteen-gene DNA methylation analysis of oral brushing samples: A potential surveillance tool for periodic monitoring of treated patients with oral cancer.

Background: We evaluated the prognostic role of 13-gene DNA methylation analysis by oral brushing repeatedly performed during the follow-up of patients surgically treated for oral cancer.

Methods: This is a nested case-control study including 61 patients for a total of 64 outcomes (2/61 patients experienced multiple relapses). Samples were collected at baseline (4-10 months after OSCC resection) and repeatedly every 4-10 months until relapse or death.

Pre-operative incisional biopsy of oral squamous cell carcinoma: high podoplanin expression is related to perineural invasion and may be a useful predictor of disease progression.

Objective: Immunohistochemical analysis of podoplanin expression as a pre-operative molecular marker for perineural invasion (PNI) may represent an attractive strategy for surgical management of oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC). We evaluated the relationship between podoplanin expression and PNI in pre-operative incisional biopsies of OSCC.

Study Design: After performing pathological staging and histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation of 83 surgical specimens, we performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between PNI and independent variables.

PRAME Expression in Mucosal Melanoma of the Head and Neck Region.

PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma), a cancer-testis antigen expressed in normal and neoplastic tissues with several functions, proved to be a useful diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. The current study aims to perform PRAME stain on a retrospective case series of mucosal melanocytic tumors of the head and neck region to compare 3 different scores and evaluate the most reliable one in this diagnostic set. Immunohistochemical analysis for PRAME was performed in 54 benign and malignant mucosal melanocytic tumors of the head and neck region collected from 41 patients.

A 13-Gene DNA Methylation Analysis Using Oral Brushing Specimens as an Indicator of Oral Cancer Risk: A Descriptive Case Report.

Analysis of genetic or epigenetic markers from saliva or brushing specimens has been proposed as a diagnostic aid to identify patients at risk of developing oral cancer. However, no reliable non-invasive molecular method for this purpose is commercially available. In the present report, we describe the potential application of a procedure based on a 13-gene DNA methylation analysis using oral brushing samples from a patient affected by oral leukoplakia who developed two metachronous oral carcinomas during the follow-up period.

Co-expression of Myoepithelial and Melanocytic Features in Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma.

The presence of melanin pigment and melanocytic markers expression have been rarely reported in salivary gland tumors. Herein, two cases of carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland and showing diffuse expression of myoepithelial and melanocytic markers are described. The clinical-pathological clues useful in the differential diagnosis with melanoma are discussed.

Pre-Operative Evaluation of DNA Methylation Profile in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Can Predict Tumor Aggressive Potential.

Background: Prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is difficult to exactly assess on pre-operative biopsies. Since OSCC DNA methylation profile has proved to be a useful pre-operative diagnostic tool, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of DNA methylation profile to discriminate OSCC with high and low aggressive potential.

Methods: 36 OSCC cases underwent neoplastic cells collection by gentle brushing of the lesion, before performing a pre-operative biopsy.

Multi-Region Sequence Analysis of a Pregnancy-Related Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Exhibiting Low-Level Aggressive Behavior.

We analyzed the genetic and epigenetic profiles of an oral squamous cell carcinoma affecting a 41-year-old pregnant female. The patient presented with an oral mass located at the hard and soft palate with bone involvement and lymph node metastases (T4N1M0). She had been treated with multimodal radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and she is currently alive with no evidence of disease 8 years after treatment.

Prognostic impact of intra-field heterogeneity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Genetic heterogeneity displayed by tumour cells (intratumoural heterogeneity, ITH) represents a diagnostic challenge when assessing tumour mutational profile. In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), ITH may be found both in tumour cells and in adjacent mucosa. Genetic heterogeneity of the adjacent mucosa can be interpreted as evidence of the field cancerization (field heterogeneity, FH).

A Mediterranean Diet Mix Has Chemopreventive Effects in a Murine Model of Colorectal Cancer Modulating Apoptosis and the Gut Microbiota.

Unhealthy dietary patterns have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) onset while Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been proposed for CRC prevention. This study evaluated the effect of a Mediterranean Diet Mix (MD-MIX) on colonic tumors development in A/J mice fed a low-fat (LFD) or a high-fat western diet (HFWD), and injected with the procarcinogen azoxymethane (AOM). Forty A/J male mice were randomly assigned into four feeding arms (10 mice/arm; LFD, LFD-MD-MIX, HFWD, HFWD-MD-MIX) to be treated with AOM.

Somatic APC mosaicism and oligogenic inheritance in genetically unsolved colorectal adenomatous polyposis patients.

Germline variants in the APC gene cause familial adenomatous polyposis. Inherited variants in MutYH, POLE, POLD1, NTHL1, and MSH3 genes and somatic APC mosaicism have been reported as alternative causes of polyposis. However, ~30-50% of cases of polyposis remain genetically unsolved.

Short-term treatment with eicosapentaenoic acid improves inflammation and affects colonic differentiation markers and microbiota in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC) have an increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. In this pilot study we evaluated the effect of Eicosapentaenoic acid as free fatty acid (EPA-FFA) supplementation on mucosal disease activity, colonic differentiation markers and microbiota composition in UC patients. Twenty long-standing UC patients in stable clinical remission and with fecal calprotectin (FC) > 150 µg/g were enrolled (T0) and supplemented with EPA-FFA 2 g/daily for 90 days (T3).

p16 protein expression and correlation with clinical and pathological features in osteosarcoma of the jaws: Experience of 37 cases.

Background: In literature, no markers have been reported as predictive and prognostic factors in osteosarcoma of the jaw.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of p16 expression was performed in 37 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma of the jaw to investigate its potential prognostic and predictive value.

Results: p16 positivity was found in 56.

Clonality analysis in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and related lymph-node metastasis revealed by TP53 and mitochondrial DNA next generation sequencing analysis.

The chance of developing a neck nodal metastasis after initial treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma varies from 12.4% to 62%. Despite being the main reason for cancer-related mortality, nodal metastases are still rarely subjected to molecular analyses, and our knowledge of the clonal heterogeneity of multiple lesions within the same patient is limited.

Eicosapentaenoic acid free fatty acid prevents and suppresses colonic neoplasia in colitis-associated colorectal cancer acting on Notch signaling and gut microbiota.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with increased risk of developing colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Epidemiological data show that the consumption of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) decreases the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). Importantly, recent data have shown that eicosapentaenoic acid-free fatty acid (EPA-FFA) reduces polyp formation and growth in models of familial adenomatous polyposis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis of the major salivary glands: a case of sialadenitis in a young patient.

A 23-year-old man was referred to our Emergency Department due to an acute-onset hemoptysis and the associated bilateral swelling of all of his major salivary glands. The elevated levels of systemic inflammatory markers with hypereosinophilia and the concurrent presence of multiple lung infiltrates made it difficult to perform a differential diagnosis, as these symptoms can also be indicative of infectious, autoimmune or hematologic disorders. A histological examination of the patient's left submandibular gland revealed strong clues as to the final diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with an atypical clinical presentation, thus allowing for the administration of early and successful conservative therapy.

Genetic relationship between multiple squamous cell carcinomas arising in the oral cavity.

Background: Histological and clinical criteria are generally used to differentiate second primary tumors (SPTs) from local recurrences. The purpose of the present study was to apply mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop analysis to differentiate SPTs from local recurrences and to validate the clinical classification.

Methods: The study population consisted of 20 consecutive patients presenting multiple oral neoplastic lesions for a total of 25 paired lesions.

Advancement in the examination of the human cardiac sinus node: an unexpected architecture and a novel cell type could interest the forensic science.

We have investigated the morphology of the sinus node of the human cardiac conduction system. Until today the sinus node (SN) is described as a heterogeneous system composed of 2 types of cells, namely, P or pale and T or transitional cells which are immersed in the matrix around the sinus nodal artery. T cells are said to share characteristics of P cells and of peripheral working atrial myocardial cells.

Unusual finding of benign Abrikossoff tumor by F-18 FDG-PET mimicking melanoma recurrence.

Granular cell tumor of Abrikossoff is a rare neoplasm that may occur in a wide variety of cutaneous and visceral sites. Granular cell tumor generally shows benign behavior. However, malignant outcome with metastatic spread has also been reported.

Microwave processing and ethanol-based fixation in forensic pathology: an addendum of further scanning electron microscope observations.

Scanning electron microscope microscopy on samples of tissue fixed with alcohol-based fixative and processed using a microwave device confirmed the validity of the fixation procedure. The details are clearer with respect to those obtainable with formalin fixatives. It was interesting to work on sections prepared for normal histologic processing because the metallization indispensable for scanning electron microscope occurred without difficulty.

Microwave processing and ethanol-based fixation in forensic pathology.

An ethanol-based fixative (FineFIX) has been used, together with rapid microwave-stimulated processing, in postmortem material, resulting in a rapid fixation and processing of the tissues with morphology, histochemical stains, and immunocytochemistry comparable to formalin-fixed material. Furthermore, this alternative fixation gives better DNA recovery in higher amounts if compared with DNA extracted from formalin-fixed tissue, particularly advantageous in forensic pathology.