Evaluation of Au(III) complexes as Plasmodium falciparum aquaglyceroporin (PfAQP) inhibitors by in silico and in vitro methods.

The onset of resistance to artemisinin for malaria treatment has stimulated the quest for novel antimalarial drugs. Herein, the gold(III) coordination complexes Aubipy [Au(bipy)Cl] (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), Auphen [Au(phen)Cl] (phen = phenanthroline), Auterpy [Au(terpy)Cl] (terpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine), and corresponding hydrolyzed species, have been investigated as inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum aquaglyceroporin (PfAQP) protein by computational methods. Through an in-silico approach using an Umbrella Sampling protocol to sample how Aubipy, Auphen, and Auterpy permeate through the PfAQP, their permeability coefficients were estimated using the Inhomogeneous Solubility Diffusion (ISD) model with promising results.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue in young adults: A Swedish head & neck cancer register (SweHNCR) population-based analysis of prognosis in relation to age and stage.

Increased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue has been reported in young adults (YA) in several countries since the 1980s and confirmed in later studies. The etiology is unclear, the prognosis has been debated, and conflicting results have been published. Some studies show better survival in young adults than in older patients, some worse, and others no difference.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of (accelerated) pre-operative versus (conventional) post-operative radiotherapy for patients with oral cavity cancer in Sweden.

Background: Treatment for resectable oral cavity cancer (OCC) often includes combinations of surgery and radiotherapy (RT), but there is no conclusive information on the preferred treatment order. The aim of this study was to assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of two alternative treatment regimens for patients with OCC, reflecting pre- and post-operative RT, from a societal perspective.

Methods: The study used data from the ARTSCAN 2 randomised controlled trial, which compares pre-operative accelerated RT with post-operative conventionally fractionated RT.

A practical and environmentally friendly protocol for synthesis of α-deuterated carboxylic acids.

α-deuterated carboxylic acids have been synthesized from the corresponding malonic acids via hydrogen/deuterium exchange and decarboxylation in presence of D O. The method is general, mild and efficient and does not require organic solvents or other additives. Yields range between 83% and 94% and purification was not necessary.

Base of tongue squamous cell carcinomas, outcome depending on treatment strategy and p16 status. A population-based study from the Swedish Head and Neck Cancer Register.

Background: The base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (BOTSCC) is mainly an HPV-related tumor. Radiotherapy (EBRT) ± concomitant chemotherapy (CT) is the backbone of the curatively intended treatment, with brachytherapy (BT) boost as an option. With four different treatment strategies in Sweden, a retrospective study based on the population-based Swedish Head and Neck Cancer Register (SweHNCR) was initiated.

A possible association between early life factors and burden of functional bowel symptoms in adulthood.

Objective: The studies of early life factors and development of functional bowel diseases show inconsistent results. We therefore examined associations between certain early life factors and functional bowel symptoms in adulthood.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Results from a prospective, randomised study on (accelerated) preoperative versus (conventional) postoperative radiotherapy in treatment of patients with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity - The ARTSCAN 2 study.

Background And Purpose: An earlier prospective randomised multicentre study (ARTSCAN) in head and neck cancer patients that compared conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CF) with accelerated radiotherapy (AF) was inconclusive. In the subgroup of oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OCSCC) a large absolute, but not statistically significant, difference in local control was seen in favour of AF. This difference was more pronounced in resectable tumours.

A longitudinal study of the Swedish MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory in patients with oral cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the Swedish MD. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) is able to detect changes in dysphagia symptoms over time for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: One hundred and forty-two patients with resectable tumors of the oral cavity were included prior to treatment.

Global RNA Expression and DNA Methylation Patterns in Primary Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most malignant tumors, with a median survival of only a few months. The tumorigenic processes of this disease have not yet been completely unraveled. Here, we report an mRNA expression and DNA methylation analysis of fourteen primary ATCs.

EGFR modulates complement activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is pivotal for growth of epithelial cells and is overexpressed in several epithelial cancers like head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). EGFR signalling is also involved in diverse innate immune functions in epithelia. We previously found a role for EGFR in modulating the complement system in skin, this prompted an investigation into EGFR role in complement modulation in HNSCC.

Substantial intrinsic variability in chemoradiosensitivity of newly established anaplastic thyroid cancer cell-lines.

Well characterized human cell lines are needed for preclinical treatment studies of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). The aim was to establish, verify and characterize a panel of ATC cell lines. Cell lines were established from ATC fine-needle aspiration biopsies and characterized genetically and functionally regarding treatment sensitivities.

Societal cost of oropharyngeal cancer by human papillomavirus status, cancer stage, and subsite.

Background: The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is increasing, particularly human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated OPC. The aim of this study was to specify the total societal cost of OPC by HPV status, cancer stage, and subsite using a bottom-up cost-of-illness approach.

Methods: We analyzed 121 consecutive patients with OPC from the Southern Health Care Region of Sweden.

A novel human in vitro papillomavirus type 16 positive tonsil cancer cell line with high sensitivity to radiation and cisplatin.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an established risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim was to establish cell lines from HPV-positive tonsil carcinomas to be used for treatment development.

Methods: Fresh samples from 23 HPV-positive tonsil carcinomas were cultivated in vitro.

Identification of Targetable Lesions in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer by Genome Profiling.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and extremely malignant tumor with no available cure. The genetic landscape of this malignancy has not yet been fully explored. In this study, we performed whole exome sequencing and the RNA-sequencing of fourteen cases of ATC to delineate copy number changes, fusion gene events, and somatic mutations.

Short half-life of HPV16 E6 and E7 mRNAs sensitizes HPV16-positive tonsillar cancer cell line HN26 to DNA-damaging drugs.

Here we show that treatment of the HPV16-positive tonsillar cancer cell line HN26 with DNA alkylating cancer drug melphalan-induced p53 and activated apoptosis. Melphalan reduced the levels of RNA polymerase II and cellular transcription factor Sp1 that were associated with HPV16 DNA. The resulting inhibition of transcription caused a rapid loss of the HPV16 early mRNAs encoding E6 and E7 as a result of their inherent instability.

GABPA inhibits invasion/metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma by regulating DICER1 expression.

The ETS family transcription factor GABPA is suggested as an oncogenic element, which is further supported by the recent reporting of it as the sole ETS member to activate the mutant TERT promoter in thyroid carcinomas (TC). However, it remains unclear how GABPA contributes to TC pathogenesis. The present study is designed to address this issue.

Correction: The economic burden of human papillomavirus-related precancers and cancers in Sweden.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The DNA damage response activates HPV16 late gene expression at the level of RNA processing.

We show that the alkylating cancer drug melphalan activated the DNA damage response and induced human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) late gene expression in an ATM- and Chk1/2-dependent manner. Activation of HPV16 late gene expression included inhibition of the HPV16 early polyadenylation signal that resulted in read-through into the late region of HPV16. This was followed by activation of the exclusively late, HPV16 splice sites SD3632 and SA5639 and production of spliced late L1 mRNAs.

Development and external validation of a risk-prediction model to predict 5-year overall survival in advanced larynx cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: TNM-classification inadequately estimates patient-specific overall survival (OS). We aimed to improve this by developing a risk-prediction model for patients with advanced larynx cancer.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Cell line dependent expression of EpCAM influences the detection of circulating tumor cells with CellSearch.

Objectives: The existence of circulating tumor cells has emerged as an important factor for prognosis and survival. The CellSearch method is the only circulating tumor cell detection method approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. It relies on the detection of EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) and is approved for colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

The economic burden of human papillomavirus-related precancers and cancers in Sweden.

Background: High-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an established cause of malignant disease. We used a societal perspective to estimate the cost of HR HPV-related cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and penile precancer and cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer in Sweden in 2006, 1 year before HPV vaccination became available in the country.

Materials And Methods: This prevalence-based cost-of-illness study used diagnosis-specific data from national registries to determine the number of HR HPV-related precancers and cancers.

Genomic complexity and targeted genes in anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a highly malignant disease with a very short median survival time. Few studies have addressed the underlying somatic mutations, and the genomic landscape of ATC thus remains largely unknown. In the present study, we have ascertained copy number aberrations, gene fusions, gene expression patterns, and mutations in early-passage cells from ten newly established ATC cell lines using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis, RNA sequencing and whole exome sequencing.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus types, viral load and physical status of HPV16 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from the South Swedish Health Care Region.

Incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is rising in several countries. Intriguingly, large variations of HPV16 viral load and different proportions of the physical viral status among HNSCC have been reported. We analysed fresh biopsies of 275 HNSCC patients from the South Swedish Health Care Region for HPV types with modified general primer PCR and Luminex.

Wound-healing factors can prime head and neck cancer cells to increase their tumor-forming capacity.

Objectives/hypothesis: We investigated whether exposing a wound-healing-sensitive cell line to human wound fluid (HWF) could prime the cells to increase their tumor-forming ability in nude mice and, if so, whether this ability can be inhibited by pharmacological substances.

Study Design: Experimental animal model.

Methods: Take rate was measured in BALB/c nude mice after pretreatment of the cells with HWF using human serum and fetal bovine serum as controls.