A cross-sectional study of the association of dental health factors with progression and all-cause mortality in men diagnosed with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Human Papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) incidence is increasing among men in the United States. Poor dental health has previously been associated with risk of head and neck cancers, oral HPV infection, and persistence but it is not understood whether dental health is associated with outcomes. We sought to determine the association of dental health with progression free survival and overall mortality among men with an HPV-OPC.

Team-Based Surgical Scheduling for Improved Patient Access in a High-Volume, Tertiary Head and Neck Cancer Center.

Background: Delays in care can lead to inferior survival outcomes in head and neck cancer and other cancers. In the case of malignancies for which surgery is the preferred primary treatment modality, challenges in surgical scheduling can present a major hurdle to initiating definitive therapy in a timely fashion. It is critical to maintain efficient use of operating room resources.

Concurrent Cetuximab and Nivolumab as a Second-Line or beyond Treatment of Patients with Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Results of Phase I/II Study.

We hypothesized the combination of cetuximab and nivolumab would improve survival in recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC by providing synergy in cancer control and evaluated toxicities and efficacy of the combination. Effects of sequential administration of cetuximab and anti-Programmed Cell Death-1 checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) were also explored. Patients who failed at least one line of palliative treatment for incurable HNSCC were treated with cetuximab 500 mg/m IV on Day (D)-14 as a lead-in followed by cetuximab 500 mg/m IV and nivolumab 240 mg/m IV on D1 and D15 every 28-D cycle.

Survival outcomes of patients with subglottic squamous cell carcinoma : a study of the National Cancer Database.

Background: Subglottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents less than 5% of all laryngeal cancers. Our objective was to better characterize survival using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) registry from 2004 to 2015.

Results: 403 patients met inclusion criteria.

Effects of Tobacco Smoking on the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who actively smoke during treatment have worse survival compared with never-smokers and former-smokers. We hypothesize the poor prognosis in tobacco smokers with HNSCC is, at least in part, due to ongoing suppression of immune response. We characterized the tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) of HNSCC in a retrospective cohort of 177 current, former, and never smokers.

Human Papillomavirus Genotype Detection in Oral Gargle Samples Among Men With Newly Diagnosed Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: The most common cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and currently the standard of care to determine the HPV infection status in this type of carcinoma is to use p16 immunohistochemistry as a surrogate marker of high-risk HPV infection. Although p16 immunohistochemistry is limited by the inability to determine the specific HPV genotypes, oral gargle samples may be a readily available source of HPV DNA for genotyping.

Objective: To determine the specific HPV genotypes present in both oral gargle samples and tumor specimens.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly versus triweekly cisplatin in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Comparative analysis.

Background: Cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy is standard of care for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. This systemic review compared efficacy and safety of weekly vs triweekly cisplatin in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods: Among 1500 prospective studies published from 1970 to 2015, 39 (18 weekly, 21 triweekly) including 3668 patients qualified for inclusion.

Impact of oncogene panel results on surgical management of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Background: The impact of oncogene panel results on the surgical management of indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) is currently unknown.

Methods: Surgical management of 649 patients consecutively evaluated from October 2008 to April 2016 with a single nodule biopsied and indeterminate cytology (193 evaluated with and 456 without oncogene panels) was assessed and compared. Histological features of 629 consecutively resected ITNs (164 evaluated with and 465 without oncogene panels) were also characterized and compared.

Cancer Risk Associated with Nuclear Atypia in Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Indeterminate categories of thyroid cytopathology (categories B-III and B-IV of the Bethesda system) are integrated by a heterogeneous spectrum of cytological scenarios that are generally clustered for analysis and management recommendations. It has been suggested that aspirates exhibiting nuclear atypia have a higher risk of malignancy. This study aimed to assess whether cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules with nuclear atypia have a significantly higher cancer risk than those without nuclear atypia.

Cancer Risk Stratification of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: A Cytological Approach.

Background: Management recommendations for thyroid nodules rely primarily on the cytological diagnosis. However, 25% of biopsies render an indeterminate cytology for which management decision is more challenging due to heterogeneity of the specimens. This study aimed to stratify the cancer risk through subcategorization of indeterminate cytology.

Development of Late Toxicities in Patients with Oral Tongue Cancer Treated with Surgical Resection and Adjuvant Radiation Therapy.

Objectives: The late effects of RT are not well reported in patients with oral tongue cancer (OTC). This study reports the incidence of late effects and factors associated with the development of late effects in OTC patients.

Methods: Patients with OTC treated in our institution from 2003 to 2013 were evaluated.

HER3 Targeting Sensitizes HNSCC to Cetuximab by Reducing HER3 Activity and HER2/HER3 Dimerization: Evidence from Cell Line and Patient-Derived Xenograft Models.

Purpose: Our previous work suggested that HER3 inhibition sensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to EGFR inhibition with cetuximab. This study aimed to define the role of HER3 in cetuximab resistance and the antitumor mechanisms of EGFR/HER3 dual targeting in HNSCC.

Experimental Design: We treated cetuximab-resistant HNSCC UMSCC1-C and parental UMSCC1-P cell lines with anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab, anti-HER3 antibody MM-121, and their combination.

Is There a Role for PET/CT Parameters to Characterize Benign, Malignant, and Metastatic Parotid Tumors?

Objective: Assessment of benign and malignant lesions of the parotid gland, including metastatic lesions, is challenging with current imaging methods. Fluorine-18 FDG PET/CT is a noninvasive imaging modality that provides both anatomic and metabolic information. Semiquantitative data obtained from PET/CT, also known as PET/CT parameters, are maximum, mean, or peak standardized uptake values (SUVs); metabolic tumor volume; total lesion glycolysis; standardized added metabolic activity; and normalized standardized added metabolic activity.

Impact of neck failure on survival in older patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background: Regional recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is often salvaged with neck dissection without survival penalty. It is unknown whether recurrence may be associated with inferior survival in older patients.

Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and Medicare data were linked to identify patients age ≥65 with nonmetastatic DTC.

Is there a role for PET/CT parameters to differentiate thyroid cartilage invasion from penetration?

Background: Assessment of thyroid cartilage invasion (tumor extension through inner cortex) and thyroid cartilage penetration (tumor involving both the inner and outer cortices of thyroid cartilage) may be challenging with CT (Computed Tomography) and MR imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is a non invasive imaging modality that provides both anatomic and metabolic information. Quantitative data obtained from PET/CT, also known as PET/CT parameters, include maximum, mean or peak standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), standardized added metabolic activity (SAM) and normalized standardized added metabolic activity (NSAM).

Outcomes and prognostic factors in modern era management of major salivary gland cancer.

Objectives: There is a dearth of prospective evidence regarding cancer of the major salivary glands. Outcomes and management of major salivary gland are based largely on retrospective series spanning many decades and changes in surgical, radiation, imaging and systemic therapy strategies and technique. We sought to report contemporary patterns of relapse and prognostic factors for major salivary gland cancer.

Clinical outcomes in elderly patients with human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx treated with definitive chemoradiation therapy.

Background: The benefit of combined chemoradiation in elderly patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) must be balanced with the potential for higher toxicity rates. We performed a retrospective review of our institutional experience.

Methods: Patients 70 years or older with p16-positive oropharyngeal SCC treated with definitive chemoradiation from 2005 to 2013 were evaluated.

Racial disparities in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue among women: a SEER data analysis.

Objectives: The incidence of oral tongue cancer (OTC) in the US is increasing in women. To understand this phenomenon, we examined factors influencing OTC incidence and survival.

Materials And Methods: We identified women diagnosed with OTC that were reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program from 1973 to 2010.

18F-FDG-PET/CT parameters as imaging biomarkers in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, is visual analysis of PET and contrast enhanced CT better than the numbers?

Purpose: This study was designed to seek associations between positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) parameters, contrast enhanced neck computed tomography (CECT) and pathological findings, and to determine the potential prognostic value of PET/CT and CECT parameters in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC).

Materials And Method: 36 OCSCC patients underwent staging PET/CT and 30/36 of patients had CECT. PET/CT parameters were measured for the primary tumor and the hottest involved node, including maximum, mean, and peak standardized uptake values (SUV max, SUV mean, and SUV peak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), standardized added metabolic activity (SAM), and normalized standardized added metabolic activity (N SAM).

Do 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters in oropharyngeal and oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas indicate HPV status?

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of PET/CT parameters with human papillomavirus (HPV) status of oropharyngeal (OP) and oral cavity (OC) squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients with OC and OP-SCC who underwent staging 18F-FDG PET/CT. PET/CT parameters were measured for the primary tumor and the hottest involved node, including SUV max, SUV mean, SUV peak, metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis, standardized added metabolic activity (SAM), and normalized SAM.

Phase 1 and pharmacokinetic study of everolimus in combination with cetuximab and carboplatin for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Platinum-based therapy combined with cetuximab is standard first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (RMSCCHN). Preclinical studies have suggested that mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors may overcome resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor blockers and may augment cetuximab antitumor activity. We conducted a phase 1b trial of carboplatin, cetuximab, and everolimus for untreated RMSCCHN.

Lymph node ratio influence on risk of head and neck cancer locoregional recurrence after initial surgical resection: implications for adjuvant therapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if lymph node ratio is associated with locoregional recurrence for patients with oral cavity or laryngeal cancer treated with initial surgical management.

Methods: The study included 350 patients with oral cavity (73%) or laryngeal cancer (27%) who underwent initial surgery. All analyses were multivariable, adjusting for primary site, pathologic prognostic factors, and adjuvant therapy.

Extent of pathologic extracapsular extension and outcomes in patients with nonoropharyngeal head and neck cancer treated with initial surgical resection.

Background: Lymph node extracapsular extension (ECE) is a known adverse prognostic factor in head and neck cancer and is an indication for adjuvant chemoradiation (CRT). However, the extent of ECE may provide additional prognostic information in the setting of adjuvant CRT.

Methods: This study included 350 patients with oral cavity cancer (72.