Altered DNA methylation is associated with aberrant stemness gene expression in early­stage HNSCC.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by morphological and functional cellular heterogeneity, which are properties of progenitor cells, as opposed to cell alterations caused by accidental expression of stem cell­related molecules. The expression levels of stemness molecules and their distribution in HNSCC are unclear. As regards sporadic cellular heterogeneity, methylation is an important factor for transcriptional regulation in tumors. Integrative screening analysis of mRNA expression and altered methylation status was performed with original microarrays in 12 tumor and non­tumor pairs of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases. From this data set, genes regulated via aberrant DNA methylation and classified proteins were validated by function clustering. Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4), known as an intestinal stemness molecule and cell­cell adhesion factor, was found to be highly expressed in tumors, with an mRNA expression ratio [tumor/normal (T/N)] of 40.7686 and low methylation (­18.02%) in the promoter region. In addition, the OLFM4 expression levels increased following treatment with the demethylating agent 5­azacytidine in two HNSCC cell lines. Furthermore, the expression levels of OLFM4 in 59 cases of early­stage tongue SCC were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to examine protein expression corresponding to the histopathological definition of tumors and to evaluate prognosis. The aberrant stemness gene expression caused by altered DNA methylation appeared to regulate early­stage HNSCC characteristics. The results of the present study indicated a correlation between OLFM4 expression and promoter methylation, and suggest that it plays an important role in tumor cell heterogeneity in HNSCC.

Investigation of the Lewis acidic behaviour of an oxygen-bridged planarized triphenylborane toward amines and the properties of their Lewis acid-base adducts.

Lewis acid behavior of an oxygen-bridged triphenylborane (1) to amines and the properties of Lewis acid-base adducts of 1 with amines have been investigated. UV-vis titration and 11B NMR experiments showed the formation of Lewis acid-base adducts of 1 with pyridine, DMAP, quinuclidine, and DABCO, respectively (1·amine). X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the planar shape of 1 was converted to a bowl shape by the formation of 1·amine. Interestingly, 1·quinuclidine, 12·DABCO, and 1·DABCO exhibited dual emissions. Excitation spectra and photoluminescence decay time measurements suggest that the dual emissions were ascribed to two excited species, i.e., [1·amine]* and [1]* generated by photodissociation in the excited states.

Longitudinal changes in the quality of life of oral cancer patients during the perioperative period.

BACKGROUND: There are few quality of life (QOL) studies that have focused on the experiences of oral cancer patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate how the QOL for patients with oral cancer changed perioperatively. METHODS: Eighty-three participants undergoing radical therapy completed assessments of QOL at pre-treatment, treatment completion, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-treatment. The Japanese version of the FACT-H&N, comprising the subscales of "physical well-being (PWB)," "social/family well-being (SWB)," "emotional well-being (EWB)," "functional well-being (FWB)," and "additional head- and neck-specific concerns(HN)" was used to assess QOL. There were two study groups: those who required reconstructive surgery (r+, 31 patients) and those who did not (r-, 52 patients). RESULTS: The FACT-H&N, PWB, FWB, and HN, were lowest at treatment completion due to declines; then, it showed significant improvement over time (p < 0.05). SWB was the highest at the completion of treatment, and thereafter decreased significantly until 3 months after treatment (p < 0.05). EWB was the lowest before treatment but improved over time (p < 0.01). HN was significantly lower at 6 months after treatment than before treatment (p < 0.05). The QOL of the r+ group was significantly lower than that of the r- group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment-associated declines in subscale area may be compensated for by gains in other subscale areas. Psychological support is better introduced prior to cancer treatment. As it is often difficult to recover from declines in HN functioning subscale, strategies that promote compensation in other areas must be explored. Clinicians should become thoroughly familiar with how patients' QOL changes over time and provide holistic treatments that honor patients' autonomy.

Lateral retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the upper gingiva: A case report.

Lateral retropharyngeal lymph node (LRPLN) is located between the internal carotid artery and the prevertebral muscles. Metastasis to the LRPLN is frequent in nasopharyngeal cancer, but is rare in oral cancer. The prognosis of patients with oral cancer with LRPLN metastasis is usually poor. The present study reported a patient with LRPLN metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the upper gingiva, who survived for >7 years. Docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (TPF) therapy was performed as induction chemotherapy and it was planned to subsequently conduct chemoradiotherapy or surgery. As the tumor only exhibited a transient response to TPF, surgery was selected. Postoperatively, only radiotherapy was performed and a favorable outcome was achieved.

Retrospective study of treatment outcomes after postoperative chemoradiotherapy in Japanese oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with risk factors of recurrence.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of postoperative concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with cisplatin (CDDP), and compare the prognosis in 3 groups-without postoperative therapy (S-only), with radiotherapy (RT) alone (S+RT), and with CRT (S+CRT)-in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients at high risk of recurrence. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data and treatment modality were investigated. Endpoints evaluated were locoregional control (LRC), relapse-free survival, overall survival (OS), and type of recurrence. RESULTS: The S+CRT group was associated with a better LRC rate than the S-only (P < .001) and S+RT groups (P = .044). However, there was no significant difference in OS rates between the S+RT and S+CRT groups. CONCLUSION: The addition of concomitant CDDP to postoperative RT improved LRC. However, there may be no benefit from the addition of concomitant CDDP to postoperative RT for improvement of distant metastasis and OS rates in OSCC patients.

Prevention of surgical site infection after oral cancer surgery by topical tetracycline: Results of a multicenter randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: In a pilot study, we showed that topical administration of a tetracycline could decrease oral bacteria levels for 6 hours in patients who underwent oral cancer surgery combined with tracheotomy and flap reconstruction. This multicenter, randomized control trial aimed to investigate the effectiveness of topical application of tetracycline ointment for prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) associated with major oral cancer surgery. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients who underwent oral cancer resection combined with neck dissection, flap reconstruction, and tracheotomy were divided randomly into an intervention group (n = 56) and a control group (n = 61). The intervention consisted of topical administration of tetracycline ointment on the dorsum of the tongue every 6 hours for 48 hours postoperatively. Factors relating to the occurrence of SSI in both groups were subjected to logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: SSI occurred in 11 patients (19.6%) in the intervention group and 22 patients (36.1%) in the control group. Multivariate analysis showed that a longer operating time and not receiving topical tetracycline were independent risk factors for development of SSI. CONCLUSION: Administration of topical tetracycline for 48 hours postoperatively is an effective way of preventing SSI after oral cancer surgery.

The first synthesis and X-ray crystallographic analysis of an oxygen-bridged planarized triphenylborane.

An oxygen-bridged planarized triphenylborane has been successfully synthesized. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the molecule has a complete planarized structure and the shortest C-B bonds among the triarylboranes synthesized to date.