Effect of Nivolumab on the Quality of Life in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer.

Background/aim: Nivolumab is expected to further prolong survival and improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients with a poor prognosis of head and neck cancer. However, only a few studies have been conducted regarding the QOL of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer patients treated with nivolumab using real-world data. This study aimed to examine the effect of nivolumab on the QOL of these patients using real-world data.

Maxillary Sinus NUT Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Background/aim: Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is extremely rare, occurs in the midline of the body, progresses rapidly and is refractory to treatment; most patients die within a year. Here, we describe a case of maxillary sinus NUT carcinoma presenting with epistaxis and nasal obstruction that was treated as a standard head and neck carcinoma.

Case Report: The patient was a 41-year-old male with a left buccal swelling; the diagnosis was made of primary NUT carcinoma of the left maxillary sinus and bone metastasis in the cervical spine.

Pregnancy and delivery in an advanced cancer survivor with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced type 1 diabetes: a case report.

Purpose: Given the rarity and elderly onset of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced type 1 diabetes (ICI-T1DM), cases leading to delivery are rare.

Method: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of childbirth in a patient with ICI-T1DM after cancer survival. A 32-year-old woman was started on Nivolumab for metastatic parotid cancers one year after total parotidectomy.

Subsequent chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus cetuximab-based chemotherapy following immune checkpoint inhibitor in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are essential in treating recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). However, the overall response rate (ORR) is limited to 10-20%, and subsequent chemotherapy is critical to maximizing the subjects' prognosis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 59 patients with R/M SCCHN treated with paclitaxel+cetuximab (PE)-based chemotherapy (PCE, paclitaxel+carboplatin+cetuximab; or PTX+Cmab, paclitaxel+cetuximab) following disease progression after either pembrolizumab or nivolumab monotherapy.

Planned drug holidays during treatment with lenvatinib for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: In the phase 3 SELECT study, lenvatinib significantly improved prognostic outcomes vs. placebo in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). However, toxicity of lenvatinib is sometimes considerable and requires frequent dose interruptions and modifications.

Combination chemotherapy with taxane and platinum in patients with salivary gland carcinoma: a retrospective study of docetaxel plus cisplatin and paclitaxel plus carboplatin.

Background: Despite advances in precision medicine, most patients with recurrent or metastatic salivary gland carcinoma still need conventional chemotherapies, such as the combination of taxane and platinum. However, evidence for these standardized regimens is limited.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with salivary gland carcinoma treated with a taxane and platinum, which contained docetaxel at a dose of 60 mg/m2 plus cisplatin at a dose of 70 mg/m2 on day 1, or paclitaxel at a dose of 100 mg/m2 plus carboplatin at a dose of area under the plasma concentration-time curve = 2.

Efficacy and safety of adapalene gel as a reactive treatment for cetuximab-induced skin toxicity in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A historical cohort comparison study.

Introduction: Despite the common occurrence of cetuximab (Cmab)-induced skin toxicity, management strategies are not well established. The traditional mainstay method consists of topical steroids, which, if used excessively, may give rise to other concerns. Alternatively, adapalene can activate epidermal growth factor receptor pathways to potentially alleviate these toxicities.

Proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics adversely effect the efficacy of nivolumab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Several reports have shown that the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antibiotics (Abx) can reduce the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in various cancers. To date, however, the association of immune checkpoint inhibitors with PPI and/or Abx in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M SCCHN) has not been reported.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with platinum-refractory R/M SCCHN treated with nivolumab from May 2017 and March 2020 in our institute.

Effectiveness of an online support program to help female cancer patients manage their health and illness: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The aim of the trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions provided by online support program apps, adopting health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) scores as indicators.

Methods: The design is as an open, randomized, parallel-group trial with longitudinal data collection. The subjects will be female cancer patients receiving treatment in a Japanese National Cancer Hospital.

Complete Response to Nivolumab of Resected Adenocarcinoma NOS With Parotid Gland Origin and Lung Metastasis.

Background/aim: Salivary gland adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS) is classified under the 2017 WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumors as a malignant neoplasm without the histological features characteristic of other cancer types. Japan's national health insurance program began covering nivolumab in March 2017 for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, including salivary gland carcinoma, previously treated with platinum agents. Existing literature does not include cases of patients with salivary gland carcinoma, adenocarcinoma NOS or otherwise, who have achieved complete response to nivolumab.

Nivolumab for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma and/or a primary subsite excluded from CheckMate141, a retrospective study.

Objectives: In CheckMate 141, nivolumab significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with platinum-refractory recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinomas (R/M SCC) of the head and neck. However, reports on nivolumab for patients with non-SCC and/or a primary subsite excluded from CheckMate 141 are limited.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of R/M head and neck cancer patients who received nivolumab.

A phase I, single-center, open-label study of RM-1929 photoimmunotherapy in Japanese patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: To determine the safety, preliminary efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of a single cycle of RM-1929 photoimmunotherapy, an anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab conjugated with a light-activatable dye (IRDye700DX), in Japanese patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rHNSCC).

Methods: Patients received a single fixed dose (640 mg/m) of RM-1929 and a fixed light treatment dose (50 J/cm for superficial illumination; 100 J/cm fiber diffuser length for interstitial illumination). Safety, tumor response (modified RECIST v1.

Combination Treatment With Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Cetuximab (PCE) as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Platinum-containing doublet chemotherapy regimens are generally considered the standard first-line systemic therapy for recurrent or metastatic (R/M) nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin (CDDP) has become a standard therapy based on a phase 3 study in several countries, yet this regimen sometimes affects quality of life due to nausea or appetite loss. Here, we present the manageable toxicity and promising activity of paclitaxel + carboplatin + cetuximab (PCE) therapy for R/M NPC.

A multicenter phase II trial of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and cetuximab followed by chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Induction chemotherapy (IC) in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) often compromises compliance with subsequent chemoradiotherapy (CRT), which negatively affects outcomes. Here, we assessed the combination of paclitaxel (PTX), carboplatin (CBDCA), and cetuximab (Cmab) as IC for unresectable LA-SCCHN.

Methods: Induction chemotherapy consisted of weekly CBDCA area under the plasma concentration-time curve = 1.

Predictive Value of Cetuximab-Induced Skin Toxicity in Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and NECK.

Skin toxicity is a common adverse event during cetuximab (Cmab) treatment. However, few reports have investigated the correlation between skin toxicity and the efficacy of Cmab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). We retrospectively reviewed 112 R/M SCCHN patients who received palliative chemotherapy with Cmab.

Paclitaxel Plus Cetuximab as 1st Line Chemotherapy in Platinum-Based Chemoradiotherapy-Refractory Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of cetuximab (Cmab) and paclitaxel (PTX) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who had unresectable recurrent or metastatic (R/M) disease after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. Data on 23 patients with SCCHN who received paclitaxel and cetuximab (Cmab) for R/M disease no more than 6 months after CRT completion were retrospectively reviewed. PTX and Cmab were given in a 28-day cycle (PTX, 80 mg/m on days 1, 8, and 15; Cmab, loading dose 400 mg/m followed by a weekly 250 mg/m).

Gemcitabine monotherapy in patients with heavily treated nasopharyngeal cancer: a case series.

Background: Although gemcitabine is thought to play a critical role in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer, no research to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine monotherapy has been conducted in Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed eight nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with gemcitabine monotherapy at National Cancer Center Hospital East between May 2015 and August 2016. The main eligibility criteria were (1) histopathologically proven NPC; (2) tumor recurrence or an initial M1 TNM stage diagnosis; (3) at least two other types of systemic chemotherapy prior to gemcitabine; (4) no other active malignant tumor during treatment.

Deep neck cellulitis: limitations of conservative treatment with antibiotics.

Conclusion: When the parapharyngeal space is infected, concurrent involvement of other spaces is likely, and involvement of multiple deep neck spaces is a key risk factor for abscess formation.

Objectives: Deep neck infection is treated with antibiotics when abscesses have not yet been formed. However, in some cases, abscesses will form later and surgical drainage is warranted.

The Comparison of Thyroarytenoid Muscle Myectomy and Type II Thyroplasty for Spasmodic Dysphonia.

Objective: Surgical treatments for adductor spasmodic dysphonia include bilateral thyroarytenoid muscle myectomy (TAM) and type II thyroplasty (TPII), both of which are commonly performed. The present study aimed to compare the effects of TAM and TPII.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Prospective Randomized Trial on Postoperative Administration of Diet Containing Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Gamma-linolenic Acid, and Antioxidants in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery Patients with Free-flap Reconstruction.

Objectives: The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the effects of a diet containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and antioxidants in head and neck cancer surgery patients with free-flap reconstruction.

Methods: In this randomized, prospective study, 62 patients with head and neck cancers were assigned to receive a general control diet (Ensure(®) H; Abbott Japan, Tokyo, Japan) or the study diet (Oxepa(®); Abbott Japan) containing EPA, DHA, GLA, and antioxidants (eg vitamins A, E, and C). The primary assessment item was the degree of postoperative inflammation, as assessed by measuring maximum body temperature and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin from the day of surgery to postoperative day 8.