Hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors in head and neck cancers: Recent advances and therapeutic challenges.

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) are key cytokines responsible for the production, maturation, and mobilization of the granulocytic and macrophage lineages from the bone marrow, which have been gaining attention for playing pro- and/or anti-tumorigenic roles in cancer. Head and neck cancers (HNCs) represent a group of heterogeneous neoplasms with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Treatment for HNCs is still limited even with the advancements in cancer immunotherapy. Novel treatments for patients with recurrent and metastatic HNCs are urgently needed. This article provides an in-depth review of the role of hematopoietic cytokines such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and interleukin-3 (IL-3; also known as multi-CSF) in the HNCs tumor microenvironment. We have reviewed current results from clinical trials using CSFs as adjuvant therapy to treat HNCs patients, and also clinical findings reported to date on the therapeutic application of CSFs toxicities arising from chemoradiotherapy.

Induction chemotherapy response of HPV-related multiphenotypic sinonasal carcinoma: First-ever reported therapeutic outcome and a brief literature review.

A 54-year-old male patient complained of nasal obstruction and epistaxis for 2 years, with worsening of the symptoms in the preceding year. Physical examination revealed a friable, irregular mass, with yellowish secretion, in the left nasal fossa. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an expansive lesion in the left nasal cavity, extending into the nasopharynx, ethmoid, right nasal cavity, and cortical bone of the hard palate. An incisional biopsy was then performed. Morphologically, a cellular malignant proliferation with a solid basaloid appearance admixed with adenoid cystic-like areas was observed. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for AE1/AE3, CK7, p63, and calponin, with focal labeling for CD117 and α-SMA. p16 had diffuse cytoplasmic and nuclear positivity. Ki-67 index was >80%. Given the morphological and immunohistochemical aspects, the diagnosis was conclusive for HPV-related multiphenotypic sinonasal carcinoma. The tumor was considered irresectable, and the patient was submitted to induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and infusional 5-fluorouracil, with significant regression after therapy, followed by chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin, without limiting toxicities. The patient is currently under regular follow-up, with complete clinical and radiological response. To date, there are no reports in the literature of induction chemotherapy use or its complete therapeutic responsiveness related to this lesion. A brief literature review was included with the main epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects regarding the 85 cases reported in the literature, including ours.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Exploring frontiers of combinatorial approaches with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint therapy.

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are the most common malignant tumors that arise in the head and neck. Despite advances in the management of affected patients, the mortality burden of these tumors is increasing every year. The discovery of a vast genetic landscape has revealed new opportunities for therapeutic intervention of head and neck SCC (HNSCC). Molecular alterations of tyrosine kinases are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer and may help keep cancer cells from growing. Currently, many drugs inhibit this enzyme family and are being studied by the pharmaceutical industry opening the room to expand the use and efficacy of this therapeutic modality alone or using combinatorial approaches including checkpoint inhibitors for treatment. In this paper, we explored the role of tyrosine kinases inhibitors of HNSCC, and clinical trials related to these molecules, expecting to provide references for HNSCC therapy.