EZH2 Expression in Head-and-Neck Squamous Cell Cancer in Young Patients.

EZH2 (Enhancer of zeste homolog 2) promotes tumor growth and survival through numerous mechanisms and is a promising target for novel therapeutic approaches. We aimed to characterize the expression of EZH2 in the tumors of young head-and-neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients in comparison with the general HNSCC patient population. We used formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 68 random young HNSCC patients (≤39 years, median age: 36 years; diagnosed between 2000 and 2018), which were compared with the samples of 58 age- and gender-matched general HNSCC subjects (median age: 62 years; all diagnosed in the year 2014). EZH2 and p53 expression of the tumors was detected using immunohistochemical staining. Lower EZH2 expression was found to be characteristic of the tumors of young HNSCC patients as opposed to the general population (median EZH2 staining intensity: 1 vs. 1.5 respectively, p < 0.001; median fraction of EZH2 positive tumor cells: 40% vs. 60%, respectively, p = 0.003, Mann-Whitney). Cox analysis identified a more advanced T status (T3-4 vs. T1-2), a positive nodal status, and alcohol consumption, but neither intratumoral EZH2 nor p53 were identified as predictors of mortality in the young patient group. The lower EZH2 expression of young HNSCC patients' tumors discourages speculations of a more malignant phenotype of early-onset tumors and suggests the dominant role of patient characteristics. Furthermore, our results might indicate the possibility of an altered efficacy of the novel anti-EZH2 therapies in this patient subgroup.

[Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland]. / A pajzsmirigy primer laphámcarcinomája.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid gland is now considered as a member of the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma group based on the latest version of the WHO tumor classification. It is a very rare entity, the prognosis is adverse with a short survival time. The aim of this article is to emphasize the therapeutic complexity of this disease. A 68-year-old woman presented with rapidly growing right-sided neck mass with hoarseness and compressive symptoms. Physical examination revealed a hard fixed tumor with right-sided vocal cord palsy. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed a case of SCC in the location of the thyroid gland, imaging studies excluded the possibility of other primary malignancies. Surgical intervention was performed aiming the total removal of the tumor. Histopathological result confirmed the diagnosis of SCC of the thyroid. Finally the patient died during the palliative radiation therapy. SCC of the thyroid gland is a great challenge for both the surgeon and the multidisciplinary team to come up with the best treatment option which is suitable for the patient due to its unfavorable prognosis. Because of the poor response to the radiation and chemotherapy, complete surgical removal and the identification of any possible targetable molecular pathological change play a unique role in the therapy. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(39): 1556-1559.

The master role of polarized NIS expression in regulating iodine metabolism in the human body.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how polarized sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression may regulate iodide metabolism in vivo. Materials and methods: Polarized NIS expression was analyzed in tissues that accumulate iodide by the use of immunohistochemistry and polyclonal antibody against the C-terminal end of human NIS (hNIS). Results: Iodide absorption in the human intestine occurs via NIS expressed in the apical membrane. Iodide is secreted into the lumen of the stomach and salivary glands via NIS expressed in the basolateral membrane and then circulates back from the small intestine to the bloodstream via NIS expressed in the apical membrane. Conclusion: Polarized NIS expression in the human body regulates intestinal-bloodstream recirculation of iodide, perhaps prolonging the availability of iodide in the bloodstream. This leads to more efficient iodide trapping by the thyroid gland. Understanding the regulation and manipulating gastrointestinal iodide recirculation could increase radioiodine availability during theranostic NIS applications.

The characteristics of head and neck squamous cell cancer in young adults: A retrospective single-center study.

We aimed to characterize clinical and prognostical factors of primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in 85 young patients (≤39 years, median age: 37 years; between 2000-2018) in comparison with 140 institutional general HNSCC patients (median age: 61.5 years). The patient's medical records were collected from the institutional database. The prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption (65.8% and 48.1%) in the young group exceeded the regional population average but was below the institutional (86.4% and 55%) general HNSCC patient population. Primary tumor sites in the group of young patients were as follows: oral cavity (56.4%), oropharynx (17.6%), hypopharynx (11.7%), and larynx (14.1%). Cumulative five-year overall survival was 44.2% in the young group, but significantly better with early T (T1-2 vs. T3-4: 52.6% vs. 26.7%; p = 0.0058) and N0 status (N0 vs. N+: 65.2% vs. 32.3%; p = 0.0013). Young age, abstinence, earlier stage and laryngeal tumor site might predict a better prognosis. The age distribution and the high prevalence of traditional risk factors among the young patients as well as the predominance of oral cavity tumor localization suggest that the early onset of tumor development could be originated from the premature failure of the intrinsic protective mechanisms.

The master role of polarized NIS expression in regulating iodine metabolism in the human body

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how polarized sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression may regulate iodide metabolism in vivo. Materials and methods: Polarized NIS expression was analyzed in tissues that accumulate iodide by the use of immunohistochemistry and polyclonal antibody against the C-terminal end of human NIS (hNIS). Results: Iodide absorption in the human intestine occurs via NIS expressed in the apical membrane. Iodide is secreted into the lumen of the stomach and salivary glands via NIS expressed in the basolateral membrane and then circulates back from the small intestine to the bloodstream via NIS expressed in the apical membrane. Conclusion: Polarized NIS expression in the human body regulates intestinal-bloodstream recirculation of iodide, perhaps prolonging the availability of iodide in the bloodstream. This leads to more efficient iodide trapping by the thyroid gland. Understanding the regulation and manipulating gastrointestinal iodide recirculation could increase radioiodine availability during theranostic NIS applications.