A Subjective Assessment of Chemotherapy Drug-Induced Taste and Smell Alteration in Non-head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Questionnaire-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate alterations in taste and smell perceptions among non-head and neck cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, aiming to identify factors influencing these changes. METHODS: A cohort of 70 non-head and neck cancer patients undergoing one to four cycles or more than four cycles, over a six-month period, from oncology outpatient clinics was recruited. Participants completed structured taste and smell questionnaires with assistance from interviewers. Demographic data, recurrence history, chemotherapy cycles, drug regimens, and taste and smell perceptions were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 46.5 years, with a predominance of females (81.4%) and breast cancer cases (42.9%). Taste changes were more prevalent (62.9%) than smell changes (32.9%) post chemotherapy, particularly among those on combination drug regimens. Salty taste alterations were the most common (30.0%), followed by sweet taste (22.9%) and sour/bitter tastes (14.3%). Moreover, 38.57% of patients reported experiencing dysgeusia, while 30% noted the occurrence of parosmia post chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy-induced alterations in taste and smell significantly impact the quality of life and nutritional status of cancer patients. Despite often being overlooked, these changes warrant increased attention in oncological practice to inform treatment decisions and enhance symptom management, particularly in palliative care settings. Further research is needed to explore the implications of chemosensory alterations on patient outcomes and treatment strategies.

Author Correction: Pericyte-like spreading by disseminated cancer cells activates YAP and MRTF for metastatic colonization.

In the version of this Article originally published, the authors inadvertently included the term 'pericytic mimicry' in relation to ref. 54. This has now been corrected by inserting an additional reference at position 51 and amending the text in the Discussion relating to 'pericytic mimicry', ref. 54 and pericyte-like spreading. The original refs 51-70 have also been renumbered. Furthermore, Fig. 8l has been amended to remove the term 'pericyte mimicry' that the authors had included inadvertently during figure preparation. These corrections have been made in the online versions of the Article.

Pericyte-like spreading by disseminated cancer cells activates YAP and MRTF for metastatic colonization.

Metastatic seeding by disseminated cancer cells principally occurs in perivascular niches. Here, we show that mechanotransduction signalling triggered by the pericyte-like spreading of disseminated cancer cells on host tissue capillaries is critical for metastatic colonization. Disseminated cancer cells employ L1CAM (cell adhesion molecule L1) to spread on capillaries and activate the mechanotransduction effectors YAP (Yes-associated protein) and MRTF (myocardin-related transcription factor). This spreading is robust enough to displace resident pericytes, which also use L1CAM for perivascular spreading. L1CAM activates YAP by engaging ß1 integrin and ILK (integrin-linked kinase). L1CAM and YAP signalling enables the outgrowth of metastasis-initiating cells both immediately following their infiltration of target organs and after they exit from a period of latency. Our results identify an important step in the initiation of metastatic colonization, define its molecular constituents and provide an explanation for the widespread association of L1CAM with metastatic relapse in the clinic.