Complex IIa formation and ABC transporters determine sensitivity of OSCC to Smac mimetics.

Small molecule inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) antagonists, known as Smac mimetics (SMs), activate non-canonical NF-κB and sensitize cancer cells to TNF-induced cell death. SMs are currently in phase III clinical trials for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after promising phase II trials. To explore the utility of SMs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we tested nine human OSCC cell lines and correlated SM sensitivity with both IAP mutation and expression levels.

Interaction between CAFs and apoptotic cancer cells promotes OSCC proliferation via STING signaling.

Background: Apoptosis can fuel oncogenesis by the education of surrounding stromal cells. However, the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which interacted with apoptotic cancer cells, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression is still unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of apoptosis and the biological effects of CAFs, interacted with apoptotic cancer cells, on OSCC.

ICOSLG-associated immunological landscape and diagnostic value in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective cohort study.

We previously reported that stroma cells regulate constitutive and inductive PD-L1 (B7-H1) expression and immune escape of oral squamous cell carcinoma. ICOSLG (B7-H2), belongs to the B7 protein family, also participates in regulating T cells activation for tissue homeostasis via binding to ICOS and inducing ICOS T cell differentiation as well as stimulate B-cell activation, while it appears to be abnormally expressed during carcinogenesis. Clarifying its heterogeneous clinical expression pattern and its immune landscape is a prerequisite for the maximum response rate of ICOSLG-based immunotherapy in a specific population.

Perineural invasion, lactate dehydrogenase, globulin, and serum sodium predicting occult metastasis in oral cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict the neck occult metastasis in early (T1-T2 cN0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials And Methods: The nomogram was developed in a training cohort of 336 early OSCC patients and was validated in a validation cohort including 88 patients. Independent predictors were calculated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Prognostic value of log odds of positive lymph nodes in patients with resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) was reported to be significantly associated with prognosis in several malignant tumors. However, few are the studies on the correlation between LODDS and overall survival (OS) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study including 233 patients with OSCC during 2009 to 2013 was conducted.