The ending is not the end: Lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Lymph node metastasis is an important biological feature of oral squamous cell carcinoma, bearing poorly prognostic implications. However, the role of lymph node metastasis in cancer progression remains inconclusive. On the one hand, lymph nodes are pivotal sites for initiating specific immunity, which is crucial for maintaining antitumor immune response.

Immunometabolism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Hope and challenge.

Immunotherapy has improved the survival rate of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but less than 20 % of them have a durable response to these treatments. Excessive local recurrence and lymph node metastasis ultimately lead to death, making the 5-year survival rate of HNSCC still not optimistic. Cell metabolism has become a key determinant of the viability and function of cancer cells and immune cells.

Complications in Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery-Related Vascularized Free Iliac Flap.

Background: Since its first application in 1978, the vascularized free iliac flap (VFIF) has gradually become a mainstay for tissue defect reconstruction. However, the complications associated with harvesting the bone flap and its corresponding reconstruction surgery cannot be overlooked.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review through literature search to identify the types, incidence, influencing factors, measurement methods, and treatment approaches of complications related to DCIA-related VFIF.

Hidden messages in fluids: A review of clinical and fundamental perspectives on post-lymph node dissection drains.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in liquid biopsy due to its non-invasive diagnostic value. Postoperative drainage fluid (PDF) is the fluid exudate from the wound site following lymph node dissection. PDF is regarded as a medical waste with no specific clinical significance.

Lymph node metastasis in cancer: Clearing the clouds to see the dawn.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is often regarded as an indicator of poor prognosis in various cancers. Despite over three centuries of exploration since its discovery, the molecular mechanisms underlying LNM remain inconclusive. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of LNM, using the "PUMP+" principle for clarification.

Lymph nodes in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a comprehensive anatomical perspective.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) often exhibits a propensity for metastasis to lymph nodes (LNs), significantly influencing prognosis. Neck dissection (ND) is an important part in the treatment of OSCC. Variations in the preference for and pathways of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in different regions of the oral cavity have been observed.

Lymph node metastasis diagnosis of postoperative OSCC patients by analyzing extracellular vesicles in drainage fluid based on microfluidic isolation.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a typical marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) indicating poor prognosis. Pathological examination by artificial image acquisition and analysis, as the main diagnostic method for LNM, often takes a week or longer which may cause great anxiety of the patient and also retard timely treatment. However, there are few efficient fast LNM diagnosis methods in clinical applications currently.

Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Diseases.

Dental, oral, and craniofacial diseases can substantially impact the quality of human life, thereby posing a serious public health concern. Although conventional therapies such as surgery have solved these problems largely, the prognosis of patients is not always satisfactory. Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CMCNPs) carry nanodrugs with the help of natural cell membranes, therefore utilizing their remarkable ability to interface and interact with their surrounding environment.

Less is more: Exploring neoadjuvant immunotherapy as a de-escalation strategy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treatment.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes a significant global cancer burden, given its high prevalence and associated mortality. Despite substantial progress in survival rates due to the enhanced multidisciplinary approach to treatment, these methods often lead to severe tissue damage, compromised function, and potential toxicity. Thus, there is an imperative need for novel, effective, and minimally damaging treatment modalities.

Enhancing cancer therapy: The role of drug delivery systems in STAT3 inhibitor efficacy and safety.

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a member of the STAT family, resides in the nucleus to regulate genes essential for vital cellular functions, including survival, proliferation, self-renewal, angiogenesis, and immune response. However, continuous STAT3 activation in tumor cells promotes their initiation, progression, and metastasis, rendering STAT3 pathway inhibitors a promising avenue for cancer therapy. Nonetheless, these inhibitors frequently encounter challenges such as cytotoxicity and suboptimal biocompatibility in clinical trials.

Seizing the fate of lymph nodes in immunotherapy: To preserve or not?

Lymph node dissection has been a long-standing diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for metastatic cancers. However, questions over myriad related complications and survival outcomes are continuously debated. Immunotherapy, particularly neoadjuvant immunotherapy, has revolutionized the conventional paradigm of cancer treatment, yet has benefited only a fraction of patients.

Nanoparticles Targeting Lymph Nodes for Cancer Immunotherapy: Strategies and Influencing Factors.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent strategy in cancer treatment, with many approved drugs and modalities in the development stages. Despite its promise, immunotherapy is not without its limitations, including side effects and suboptimal efficacy. Using nanoparticles (NPs) as delivery vehicles to target immunotherapy to lymph nodes (LNs) can improve the efficacy of immunotherapy drugs and reduce side effects in patients.

Nanotheranostics in cancer lymph node metastasis: The long road ahead.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) significantly impacts the prognosis of cancer patients. Despite significant advancements in diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities, clinical challenges continue to persist in the realm of LNM. These include difficulties in early diagnosis, limited treatment efficacy, and potential side effects and injuries associated with treatment.

Correlation between vitamin D levels in serum and the risk of dental caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in oral health, and its deficiency is associated to significant changes in oral health diseases. We aimed to explore the relationship between levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) and dental caries in children.

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched by two investigators including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library.

Charting new frontiers: Co-inhibitory immune checkpoint proteins in therapeutics, biomarkers, and drug delivery systems in cancer care.

Cancer remains a major health concern globally. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) target co-inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules and have received approval for treating malignancies like melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. While CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 are extensively researched, additional targets such as LAG-3, TIGIT, TIM-3, and VISTA have also demonstrated effective in cancer therapy.

Enhancing head and neck tumor management with artificial intelligence: Integration and perspectives.

Head and neck tumors (HNTs) constitute a multifaceted ensemble of pathologies that primarily involve regions such as the oral cavity, pharynx, and nasal cavity. The intricate anatomical structure of these regions poses considerable challenges to efficacious treatment strategies. Despite the availability of myriad treatment modalities, the overall therapeutic efficacy for HNTs continues to remain subdued.

Recent advances in targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells and their applications to radiotherapy.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a group of heterogenous immature myeloid cells with potent immune suppressive properties that not only constrain anti-tumor immune activation and functions, promote tumor progression, but also contribute to treatment resistance and tumor relapse. Targeting MDSCs may be a promising new cancer treatment method, but there is still a problem of low treatment efficiency. Combined application with radiotherapy may be a potential method to solve this problem.

Lycorine upregulates the expression of RMB10, promotes apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells.

Although there are numerous treatment strategies, including surgery and chemotherapy, the prognosis of cervical cancer remains far from satisfactory. There is an urgent need to develop more effective, more tolerable and safer therapeutics for the treatment of cervical cancer. Lycorine is a natural plantextract that has been previously found to confer anti‑tumor activities.

Adipose-derived stem cells postpone the progression of Sjögren's syndrome by upregulating the Hippo signaling pathway.

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect and mechanism of action of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on Sjögren syndrome (SS) to develop novel and more effective methods for SS treatment. ADSCs, dexamethasone or normal saline was injected into the submandibular gland (SMG) of three 12-week-old non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. The degree of lymphocyte infiltration was considered as a criterion for judging disease progression, hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe the pathological state, and the expression levels of TAZ, E-cadherin and α-catenin were assessed by western blotting.

Adipose-derived stem cells promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by activating the Wnt/planar cell polarity signaling pathway.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral and maxillofacial region. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) interact with a variety of malignant tumors to promote their proliferation and metastasis. Abnormalities in Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling and overactivation of the signaling pathway are considered to be related to the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors.