Follicular adenoma with a papillary architecture originating from an ectopic thyroid gland: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Follicular adenomas with papillary architecture are rare tumors of thyroid origin and are composed of completely encapsulated follicular cells with a papillary architecture lacking the nuclear characteristics of papillary carcinoma. Herein, we present a case of follicular adenoma with papillary architecture originating from an ectopic thyroid gland, diagnosed from a mass in the submandibular region. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of a painless left submandibular mass that had been present for one year. The patient underwent left submandibular dissection for therapy and diagnosis. Microscopically, papillary lesions with fibrovascular cores were observed in the interior, and the epithelial cells were cylindrical in shape with eosinophilic cytoplasm, round or oval nuclei, with no pathological features, leading to a diagnosis of papillary carcinoma or follicular carcinoma. The mass was diagnosed as a follicular thyroid adenoma with papillary architecture. This is the first report of a follicular adenoma with a papillary architecture originating from an ectopic thyroid gland. CONCLUSION: This experience suggests that follicular adenoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of ectopic thyroid tumors.

Predictive factors for dissection-free sentinel node micrometastases in early oral squamous cell carcinoma.

This sentinel node (SN) biopsy trial aimed to assess its effectiveness in identifying predictive factors of micrometastases and to determine whether elective neck dissection is necessary in oral squamous cell carcinoma. This retrospective study included 55 patients from three previous trials, with positive SNs. The relationship between the sizes of the metastatic focus and metastasis in non-sentinel node (NSN) was investigated. Four of the 55 largest metastatic focus were isolated tumor cells, and the remaining 51 were ranged from 0.2 to 15 mm, with a median of 2.6 mm. The difference of prevalence between 46 negative- and 9 positive-NSN was statistically significant with regard to age, long diameter of primary site and number of cases with regional recurrence. In comparing the size of largest metastatic focus dividing the number of positive SN, with metastaic focus range of < 3.0 mm in one-positive SN group, there were 18 (33%) negative-NSN and no positive-NSN. Regarding prognosis, 3-year overall survival rate of this group (n = 18) and other (n = 37) were 94% and 73% (p = 0.04), and 3-year recurrence free survival rate of this group and other were 94% and 51% (p = 0.03), respectively. Absolutely a further prospective clinical trial would be needed, micrometastases may be defined as solitary SN metastasis with < 3.0 mm of metastatic focus, and approximately 33% of neck dissections could be avoided using these criteria.

A retrospective analysis of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with nivolumab.

Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor is the first-line therapy for platinum-resistant recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer, and highly effective for some patients. However, no factors have been identified that could predict response or prognosis after nivolumab administration. We retrospectively investigated the association between tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of initial pathology and prognosis in patients treated with nivolumab. Twenty-eight patients with human papilloma virus and Epstein-Barr virus unrelated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled. CD8+cells, FoxP3+cells and FoxP3-CD4+cells in the tumoral and peritumoral stromal area and PD-L1 were measured. In result, FoxP3-CD4+TIL, FoxP3+TIL, and CD8+TIL were not correlated with survival in either intratumoral and stromal area. In univariate analysis, objective response was significant prognostic factor both in progression-free survival and overall survival (p = 0.01, 0.006, respectively). PD-L1 was also significant prognostic factor both in progression-free survival and overall survival (p = 0.01, 0.01, respectively). ECOG Performance status was a significant prognostic factor in overall survival (p = 0.0009). In the combined analysis of stromal CD8+TIL and PD-L1, PD-L1 positive with high stromal CD8+TIL subgroups had a better prognosis than PD-L1 negative with low stromal CD8+TIL subgroups in progression-free survival (p = 0.006). Although these results require a further investigation, PD-L1 and ECOG Performance status and the combination of stromal CD8+TIL and PD-L1 positivity have potential as useful prognostic markers in patients of virus unrelated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab.

Importance of tumor budding grade as independent prognostic factor for early tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Factors involved in neck lymph node metastasis (NLM) and prognosis of early tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain unknown. METHODS: We analyzed disease-specific survival (DSS) and NLM including tumor budding grade (TBG) among 64 patients with cT1/2N0 tongue SCC. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of DSS of primary lesions uncovered significant differences in new cT, pT, new pT, pDiameter, venous infiltration, and TBG. Multivariate analysis selected only TBG3 as a predictor of NLM (odds ratio, 9.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80-50.8; P = .008), and a prognostic factor for DSS (hazard ratio, 4.41; 95% CI, 1.34-14.5; P = .02). CONCLUSION: The sole predictor of NLM and the prognosis of early tongue SCC was TBG, indicating that it might help to select overwhelming risk patients.

Correlation of Inflammatory Markers, Survival, and COX2 Expression in Oral Cancer and Implications for Prognosis.

Objective Peripheral blood-derived inflammation-based scores, such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and the combination of platelet count and NLR, have recently been proposed as prognostic markers in solid tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of inflammatory markers as predictive prognostic factors for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In addition, we evaluated the potential correlation between systemic inflammation and local expression of COX2. Study Design Retrospective chart review and histologic analysis. Setting Tertiary referral academic center. Subjects and Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 94 patients with advanced OSCC treated with surgery at our hospital between 2007 and 2015. The relationship among patient survival, systemic inflammatory markers, and local COX2 expression was evaluated. Local COX2 expression in surgical specimens was measured by immunohistochemistry. Results High NLR and high PLR were associated with significantly shorter overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that cN stage, NLR, and postoperative radiation/chemoradiation were significantly associated with overall survival and cancer-specific survival. PLR and combination of platelet count and NLR were significantly correlated with tumor expression of COX2. Finally, patients with cN2 stage disease and high local COX2 expression had a significantly worse prognosis than other patient groups. Conclusion Pretreatment inflammatory markers are useful as prognostic factors in advanced OSCC. Our study suggests that local COX2 may be affected by systemic inflammation and that the prognostic impact of COX2 expression depends on host factors and tumor characteristics.

Functional Roles of Netrin-1 in Osteoblast Differentiation.

AIM: Recent studies have demonstrated that netrin-1 plays a vital role in bone metabolism. Previous studies have shown that osteoblasts produce netrin-1 which affects osteoclast differentiation. However, the role of netrin-1 in osteoblast differentiation is not well understood. In this study, we explored the roles of netrin-1 in osteoblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), RNA interference for netrin receptors, the generation of netrin-1 plasmid, transfection of plasmids, and cell proliferation assay were performed. RESULTS: During osteoblast differentiation by ascorbic acid, netrin-1 expression was significantly decreased. Gene expression related with osteoblast differentiation was down-regulated by netrin-1 treatment. We also found that osteoblast differentiation by bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) was inhibited in the presence of recombinant netrin-1. Forced expression of both BMP-4 and netrin-1 significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase expression. On the other hand, Unc5b, neogenin, and A2b which belong to netrin receptors were expressed by osteoblasts. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase expression was significantly decreased by knockdown for the combination of two receptors among these receptors. CONCLUSION: Netrin-1 is involved in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation.

PD-L1 Expression Confers Better Prognosis in Locally Advanced Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Clinical trials with therapies targeting immune checkpoint molecules have shown promising results in several tumor types. However, the predictive and prognostic values of these immunological factors for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas (LAOSCC) remain unclear. Our purpose was to evaluate the expression and prognostic value of programmed cell death-ligand1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2 and to correlate their expression with the degree of infiltration by CD8+ cells in LAOSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 84 patients with LAOSCC were included. PD-L1, PD-L2 and CD8 expression was detected in the tumor tissue using immunohistochemistry and was tested for correlation with clinical outcome. RESULTS: PD-L1 and PD-L2 were expressed in 52.4% and 23.8% of LAOSCC cases, respectively. PD-L1 positivity was significantly associated with superior disease-free (p=0.024) and overall (p=0.008) survival of the patients and retained significance in multivariate analysis. PD-L1 positivity was correlated with CD8 density. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression was associated with CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and better outcome in patients with LAOSCC.

A huge osteolipoma involving the coronoid process: a case report.

A 28-year-old man visited our hospital with the chief complaint of trismus. Computed tomography revealed a well-defined, soft tissue tumor, 66 × 45 × 21 mm, with a distinct boundary in the inner region of the zygomatic arch. The mass contained various sizes of bone-like hard tissue, some of which adhered to the right coronoid process. A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image showed that the mass was composed mainly of adipose tissue. Tumorectomy was performed, and the histopathological diagnosis was osteolipoma. At 2-year follow-up, mouth opening had increased from 31 mm to 50 mm. (J Oral Sci 58, 141-144, 2016).

Usability of surgical treatment in cases of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw stage 2 with sequestrum.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study was conducted to reveal usability of surgical treatment in the cases of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) stage 2 with sequestrum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Study subjects included 18 patients having BRONJ stage 2 with sequestrum and 12 non-BRONJ patients with nearly equal clinical states of BRONJ stage 2. Patient characteristics, frequency of inciting factors of osteonecrosis, and treatment results were compared between BRONJ group and non-BRONJ groups. In addition, correlation between treatment methods (conservative therapy, sequestrum curettage, and sequestrectomy) and treatment results and correlation between the administration route of bisphosphonates (BPs) (oral or intravenous) and treatment results were examined statistically. The Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patient characteristics, frequency of inciting factors of osteonecrosis, and treatment results showed no significant differences between the two groups. In the BRONJ group, treatment result of sequestrectomy was significantly better than conservative therapy/sequestrum curettage (P < 0.001), however, no significant difference was observed in the non-BRONJ group. No significant difference was found in correlation between the administration route of BPs and treatment results in the BRONJ group. CONCLUSION: Treatment outcome of sequestrectomy was better than conservative therapy/sequestrum curettage in BRONJ stage 2 cases with sequestrum.

Netrin-4 derived from murine vascular endothelial cells inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and prevents bone loss in vivo.

Bone is a highly vascularized organ, thus angiogenesis is a vital process during bone remodeling. However, the role of vascular systems in bone remodeling is not well recognized. Here we show that netrin-4 inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Co-cultures of bone marrow macrophages with vascular endothelial cells markedly inhibited osteoclast differentiation. Adding a neutralizing antibody, or RNA interference against netrin-4, restored in vitro osteoclast differentiation. Administration of netrin-4 prevented bone loss in an osteoporosis mouse model by decreasing the osteoclast number. We propose that vascular endothelial cells interact with bone in suppressing bone through netrin-4.

Expression of TLE3 by bone marrow stromal cells is regulated by canonical Wnt signaling.

Transducing-like enhancer of split 3 (TLE3), one of the Groucho/TLE family members, targets Runx2 transcription and suppresses osteoblast differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Here, we identify Wnt responsive elements of the TLE3 promoter region through comparative genomic and functional analyses and show that expression of TLE3 is increased by Wnt signaling, which is important for osteoblast differentiation. We also demonstrated that TLE3 is able to suppress canonical Wnt signaling in BMSCs. Taken together, our data suggest that induction of TLE3 by Wnt signaling is part of a negative feedback loop active during osteoblast differentiation.

The paired-box homeodomain transcription factor Pax6 binds to the upstream region of the TRAP gene promoter and suppresses receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation.

Osteoclast formation is regulated by balancing between the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) expressed in osteoblasts and extracellular negative regulatory cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interferon-ß (IFN-ß), which can suppress excessive bone destruction. However, relatively little is known about intrinsic negative regulatory factors in RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation. Here, we show the paired-box homeodomain transcription factor Pax6 acts as a negative regulator of RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation. Electrophoretic mobility shift and reporter assays found that Pax6 binds endogenously to the proximal region of the tartrate acid phosphatase (TRAP) gene promoter and suppresses nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1)-induced TRAP gene expression. Introduction of Pax6 retrovirally into bone marrow macrophages attenuates RANKL-induced osteoclast formation. Moreover, we found that the Groucho family member co-repressor Grg6 contributes to Pax6-mediated suppression of the TRAP gene expression induced by NFATc1. These results suggest that Pax6 interferes with RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation together with Grg6. Our results demonstrate that the Pax6 pathway constitutes a new aspect of the negative regulatory circuit of RANKL-RANK signaling in osteoclastogenesis and that the augmentation of Pax6 might therefore represent a novel target to block pathological bone resorption.