LncRNA HOXA11-AS promotes OSCC progression by sponging miR-98-5p to upregulate YBX2 expression.

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a type of oral malignancy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be related to the occurrence and development of many cancers. Here, we aimed to study the role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA Homeobox A11 antisense RNA (HOXA11-AS) in OSCC. METHODS: The expression levels of HOXA11-AS, miR-98-5p and Y box binding protein 2 (YBX2) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry and transwell assays were utilized to determine the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of OSCC cells. Western blot (WB) analysis was conducted to measure the levels of apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation-related proteins and YBX2 protein. Besides, Dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull down assays were carried out to examine the relationship among HOXA11-AS, miR-98-5p and YBX2. The mice xenograft models were constructed to further determine the effect of HOXA11-AS on OSCC tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: HOXA11-AS was highly expressed in OSCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of HOXA11-AS significantly reduced proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, while promoted apoptosis of OSCC cells. MiR-98-5p was a target of HOXA11-AS, and its inhibitor could revert the inhibition effect of silenced-HOXA11-AS on the progression of OSCC. Also, YBX2 was a target of miR-98-5p, and its overexpression could invert the suppression effect of miR-98-5p overexpression on the progression of OSCC. YBX2 expression was regulated by HOXA11-AS and miR-98-5p. Furthermore, HOXA11-AS silencing could reduce the tumor growth of OSCC in vivo. CONCLUSION: HOXA11-AS plays an active role in the progression of OSCC, and the discovery of HOXA11-AS/miR-98-5p/YBX2 axis provides new therapeutic targets for OSCC.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in cN0 neck management of parotid cancer.

Our goals was to evaluate how sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) benefit neck management in patients with parotid cancer. Patients diagnosed with cN0 parotid cancer by preoperative fine needle puncture were prospectively enrolled. The neck status was evaluated by SLNB. If node metastasis was proved by SLNB, a neck dissection of level I-V a was performed, or a wait-and-see policy was conducted for the patient. All related information was extracted and analyzed. Positive SLNB result occurred in 33 (16.7%) patients, and level II metastasis was noted in 100% of the patients. Isolated level III metastasis was noted in 3 (9.1%) patients. During our follow-up with mean time of 49.5 months, 20 patients developed regional recurrence, in which 6 patients had neck dissection as part of their initial management. All the recurrent neck disease was successfully salvaged. Therefore, SLNB was a reliable procedure for neck management in parotid cancer.

Role of intraparotid node metastasis in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic factors for parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) usually include disease grade, tumor stage, node stage, perineural invasion, and lymphovascular invasion. But the role of intraparotid nodes (IPNs) remains unclear, therefore, the study aimed to analyze the significance of IPNs in predicting recurrence in parotid MEC. METHODS: One hundred and ninety patients were included for analysis finally. Data regarding demography, pathological characteristics, IPN metastasis, TNM stage, follow up was collected and evaluated. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) was the main study endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 47 (24.7%) patients had IPN metastasis, and the IPN metastasis was significantly related to tumor stage, pathologic N stage, lymph-vascular invasion, perineural invasion, and disease grade. Recurrence occurred in 34 (17.9%) patients. For patients without IPN metastasis, the 10-year RFS rate was 88%, for patients with IPN metastasis, the 10-year RFS rate was 54%, the difference was significant (p < 0.001). Further Cox model analysis confirmed the independence of IPN metastasis in predicting the prognosis. CONCLUSION: The IPN metastasis is relatively common in parotid MEC, it is significantly related to tumor stage and disease grade, IPN metastasis means worse recurrence-free survival.

Sarcomatoid Carcinoma in the Parotid Gland: A Review of 30 Years of Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to analyze the results of clinical treatment of sarcomatoid carcinoma in the parotid gland by reviewing 30 years of experience. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled in this study. The Kaplan-Meier methods were used to calculate the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates. The Cox model was used to determine the independent risk factor. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation was 57.8 years, and most of the patients were staged as tumor (T)3 or T4. Perineural invasion was noted in 15 (42.9%) patients. Fifteen (42.9%) patients received neck dissection due to clinically suspicious nodes. Of those, three patients had pathologically positive nodes. Recurrence was noted in 14 patients; the most common pattern of treatment failure was local recurrence, and only 40% of the patients could receive salvaged surgical treatment. Disease-specific death was noted in 10 patients. The 5-year RFS and DSS rates were 67.3% and 65.7%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, only the factor of perineural invasion was independently correlated with death. CONCLUSION: Parotid sarcomatoid carcinoma carries a poor prognosis, and perineural invasion was the most important predictive factor. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 129:1137-1140, 2019.