Elevated N-myristoyltransferase activity and expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) catalyzes the myristoylation of proteins involved in signal transduction, cellular transformation, differentiation, proliferation and oncogenesis. In this study, we report for the first time on the elevated NMT activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Increased activity is marked with increased staining for NMT in the OSCC samples compared to the normal adjacent tissues. In addition, we observed increased staining for the N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor protein 71 (NIP71) in the OSCC samples compared to the control tissues. These findings suggest the regulatory relationship between NMT and NIP71 during tumorigenesis. It is possible that the increased activity results in the overexpression of NIP71 in an effort to control NMT activity.

A large giant cell tumor of the larynx: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are typically found in the metaphyseal-epiphyseal area of long bones but can also occur in the head and neck region. GCT of the larynx is a rare entity with only 42 reported cases in the international literature. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge this is the largest laryngeal GCT reported in the literature to date. GCT of the larynx can present with dysphonia, dyspnea, and/or dysphagia and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a neck mass. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a giant cell tumor of the left thyroid cartilage in a 30-year-old man who initially presented with dysphonia and dysphagia. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 5 × 5.7 cm mass centered on the left thyroid cartilage, which was further diagnosed by histopathology as giant cell tumour by open biopsy. The patient was counselled on treatment options and it was decided to proceed with a surgical approach. The patient consented to and successfully underwent a total laryngectomy (TL). Currently the patient has no evidence of disease at 13 months follow-up, has an optimal prosthetic voice, and is able to tolerate all textures of foods. CONCLUSION: GCTs of the larynx have a good prognosis and can be treated successfully through complete resection of the tumor, negating the need for adjunctive therapy such as radiation, chemo or denosumab therapy.