Erratum: HIF-1α or HOTTIP/CTCF Promotes Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Drug Resistance by Targeting HOXA9.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.12.045.].

Detection of peripheral blood circulating tumor cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of peripheral blood circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its correlation with the clinicopathological features of OSCC. METHODS: Ninety-three patients diagnosed as OSCC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2019 to May 2020 were selected as the experimental group, and 20 healthy volunteers were employed as the control group. The CTCs value of peripheral blood of the patients were measured by CTCs detection technology, and its clinical significance was analyzed. RESULTS: The CTCs values in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.000 1). The CTCs value in the peripheral blood of patients in the experimental group were not correlated with gender, site of onset, and presence or absence of peripheral tissue infiltration (P>0.05), but was correlated with age (P=0.022), tumor T stage (P=0.02), tumor N stage (P=0.007 5), tumor M stage (P=0.013), clinical stage (P=0.029), early or late stage (P=0.022), tumor differentiation degree (P<0.001), and node metastasis (P=0.006 4). The AUC value of CTCs in OSCC diagnosis was 0.925, and the energy efficiency was statistically significant [P=0.000, 95%CI (0.876, 0.974)]. When the CTC value was 8.450 FU/3 mL, the maximum value of the Yoden index was 0.853, and the sensitivity and specificity of OSCC diagnosis were 90.3% and 95.0%, respectively. The AUC value of CTCs in the diagnosis of OSCC metastasis was 0.691, and the energy efficiency was statistically significant [P=0.000, 95%CI (0.580, 0.803)]. When the blood CTC value was 12.250 FU/3 mL, the maximum value of Yoden index was 0.367, the sensitivity was 63.6%, and the specificity was 73.3%. Multivariate regression analysis showed that buccal tumor was negatively correlated with CTCs in patients with OSCC (P=0.001 08), N2 stage (P=0.000 74) and M stage (P=0.026 38). High differentiation (P<0.000 1) and moderate differentiation (P=0.001 5) were negatively correlated with CTCs values in patients with OSCC. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral blood CTCs has important clinical value for early screening, auxiliary diagnosis, evaluation of metastasis, and determination of malignant degree, progression, and pathological grade of OSCC and a relatively reliable tumor detection indicator.

[Clinical value of oral repair membrane and ß-tricalcium phosphate in the treatment of the postoperative bone defect of jaw cyst].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of oral repair membrane and ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) on the treatment of jaw cyst. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 81 cases of jaw cysts, and clinical data were collected for the comparison of traditional surgical curettage (group A, 27 cases), biofilm covering bone wounds after curettage (group B, 27 cases), and ß-TCP filling combined with biofilm covering. RESULTS: No recurrence occurred in 81 patients, and no significant difference in preoperative CT value among the three groups (P<0.05). Follow-up CT reexamination 3, 6, and 12 months after operation showed significant differences among the three groups of CT values (P<0.05). Group C was better than Group B or Group A (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In traditional jaw cyst curettage, the application of biofilm exhibited good osteogenesis effect, and the combined application of ß-TCP and biofilm exerted a better effect.

HIF-1α or HOTTIP/CTCF Promotes Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Drug Resistance by Targeting HOXA9.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. However, the clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory. The aim of this study is to unravel the functional role and regulatory mechanism of HOXA9 in HNSCC. A cohort of 25 HNSCC tumor tissues and normal tissue counterparts was collected. qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the levels of HOXA9 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were conducted to monitor cell viability and cytotoxicity. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (FITC/PI) staining was performed to detect cell apoptosis. Bioinformatic analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to investigate the direct binding between HIF-1α or CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) and HOXA9. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down and RNA pull-down assays were used to validate the interaction between CTCF and HOTTIP. HOXA9 was upregulated in HNSCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of HOXA9 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance but promoted apoptosis in CAL-27 and KB cells. Knockdown of HOXA9 also regulated EMT-related marker via targeting YAP1/ß-catenin. Silencing of HOTTIP or CTCF exerted similar tumor-suppressive effects in HNSCC. Mechanistically, HIF-1α or CTCF transcriptionally regulated HOXA9, and HOTTIP/CTCF cooperatively regulated HOXA9 in KB cells. HIF-1α or HOTTIP/CTCF transcriptionally modulates HOXA9 expression to regulate HNSCC progression and drug resistance.