Reconstruction of Defects After Oral Cancer Surgery With the Superior Thyroid Artery Perforator Flap.

OBJECTIVE: The superior thyroid artery perforator flap (STAPF) was previously presented as a type of locoregional pedicled flap for lateral facial and temple defects. In this study, we aimed to present our clinical experience with this flap for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects after oral cancer surgery. METHODS: From February 2019 to December 2022, 24 patients with oral cancers at the School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University were included. Among these patients, 10 had cancers located in the tongue, five in the cheek inside the oral cavity, three in the lower gingiva, two in the upper gingiva, two in the floor of the mouth, and two in the palate. All patients were treated with extended tumor resection, neck dissection, and STAPFs to reconstruct the soft tissue defects. The details of the flap, including the flap size, venous flow, vascular pedicle length, the attatched muscle, and operation time were evaluated. RESULTS: The dimensions of the flap skin paddle ranged from 3 cm × 5 cm to 6 × 14 cm. Fourteen patients had a closely concomitant superior thyroid vein perforator. Ten patients had non-closely concomitant superior thyroid veins perforators which retrograde external jugular vein. The vascular pedicle length ranged from 5 to 9 cm. The infrahyoid muscle group or sternocleidomastoid muscle was included in the flaps in three patients. A total of 23/24 flaps were successful. CONCLUSIONS: The STAPF is a viable reconstructive option for patients with oral cancers. It has the advantages of being robust, being thin, short operation time, and minor donor site complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Long-term result of 125 I seed brachytherapy for pediatric desmoid tumor in the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: Desmoid tumor (DT) is rare and challenging, often affects the head and neck (HN) region in children, and its appropriate treatments are under-discussed. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of 125 I seed brachytherapy for pediatric DT in HN. PROCEDURE: Seven pediatric patients with a median age of three years who suffered from DT in HN treated with 125 I brachytherapy from January 2008 to June 2018 were included. Among these, five underwent sole brachytherapy and the others combined with surgery under prescription doses ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 cGy. The rate of local control (LC), complete response (CR), and partial response (PR) was calculated after evaluation by radiological and pathological means. Radiation-associated toxicities were also evaluated. RESULTS: The LC rate was 7/7 during the follow-up time ranging from 43 to 135 months and with a mean of 57 months. No recurrent lesion was found in the patients receiving surgery combined with brachytherapy. In patients treated with sole brachytherapy, the radiological PR rate and CR rate were 4/5 and 1/5, respectively. In those reaching radiological PR, 3/4 were pathological CR. Slight acute radiation-associated toxicities were observed in all patients, and no late or severe acute toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: 125 I brachytherapy is effective and safe in the management of pediatric DT in HN as the sole modality or combined with surgery in the long term.

Exosomal HMGA2 protein from EBV-positive NPC cells destroys vascular endothelial barriers and induces endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition to promote metastasis.

Increased vascular permeability facilitates metastasis. Cancer-secreted exosomes are emerging mediators of cancer-host crosstalk. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), identified as the first human tumor-associated virus, plays a crucial role in metastatic tumors, especially in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). To date, whether and how exosomes from EBV-infected NPC cells affect vascular permeability remains unclear. Here, we show that exosomes from EBV-positive NPC cells, but not exosomes from EBV-negative NPC cells, destroy endothelial cell tight junction (TJ) proteins, which are natural barriers against metastasis, and promote endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in endothelial cells. Proteomic analysis revealed that the level of HMGA2 protein was higher in exosomes derived from EBV-positive NPC cells compared with that in exosomes derived from EBV-negative NPC cells. Depletion of HMGA2 in exosomes derived from EBV-positive NPC cells attenuates endothelial cell dysfunction and tumor cell metastasis. In contrast, exosomes from HMGA2 overexpressing EBV-negative NPC cells promoted these processes. Furthermore, we showed that HMGA2 upregulates the expression of Snail, which contributes to TJ proteins reduction and EndMT in endothelial cells. Moreover, the level of HMGA2 in circulating exosomes is significantly higher in NPC patients with metastasis than in those without metastasis and healthy negative controls, and the level of HMGA2 in tumor cells is associated with TJ and EndMT protein expression in endothelial cells. Collectively, our findings suggest exosomal HMGA2 from EBV-positive NPC cells promotes tumor metastasis by targeting multiple endothelial TJ and promoting EndMT, which highlights secreted HMGA2 as a potential therapeutic target and a predictive marker for NPC metastasis.

Epstein-Barr Virus Induces Lymphangiogenesis and Lympth Node Metastasis via Upregulation of VEGF-C in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Lymphatic metastasis is a common clinical symptom in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the most common Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated head and neck malignancy. However, the effect of EBV on NPC lymph node (LN) metastasis is still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that EBV infection is strongly associated with advanced clinical N stage and lymphangiogenesis of NPC. We found that NPC cells infected with EBV promote LN metastasis by inducing cancer-associated lymphangiogenesis, whereas these changes were abolished upon clearance of EBV genomes. Mechanistically, EBV-induced VEGF-C contributed to lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis, and PHLPP1, a target of miR-BART15, partially contributed to AKT/HIF1a hyperactivity and subsequent VEGF-C transcriptional activation. In addition, administration of anti-VEGF-C antibody or HIF1α inhibitors attenuated the lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis induced by EBV. Finally, we verified the clinical significance of this prometastatic EBV/VEGF-C axis by determining the expression of PHLPP1, AKT, HIF1a, and VEGF-C in NPC specimens with and without EBV. These results uncover a reasonable mechanism for the EBV-modulated LN metastasis microenvironment in NPC, indicating that EBV is a potential therapeutic target for NPC with lymphatic metastasis. IMPLICATIONS: This research demonstrates that EBV induces lymphangiogenesis in NPC by regulating PHLPP1/p-AKT/HIF1a/VEGF-C, providing a new therapeutic target for NPC with lymphatic metastasis.

[Therapeutic Effect of Imatinib Made in Real World to Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic imatinib (made in China) in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia chronic phase(CML-CP). METHODS: Fifty-seven newly diagnosed CML-CP patients who did not receive any other anti-CML treatment were treated by domestic imatinib 400 mg once a day. The hematological, cytogenetic and molecular reactions and safety were observed and evaluated after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were treated for ≥3 and 6 months, among which 50 patients were treated for ≥12 months. After 3 months of treatment, 49 patients underwent hematological examination, 47 patients (95.9%) achieved complete hematological response (CHR), 49 patients underwent cytogenetic examination, 39 patients (79.6%) achieved major cytogenetic response (MCyR), and 12 patients (24.5%) achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR). 49 patients underwent the level of BCR-ABL test, including 41 patients (83.7%) with BCR-ABLIS≤10%, and 5 patients (10.2%) with major molecular response (MMR: BCR-ABLIS ≤ 0.1%). After 6 months of treatment, 49 patients underwent hematological examination, and 49 patients (100%) all achieved CHR. 49 patients underwent cytogenetic examined, of which 41 cases (83.7%) obtained MCyR and 31 cases (65.3%) obtained CCyR. 49 patients underwent the level of BCR-ABL test, among which 33 patients (67.4%) showed BCR-ABLIS≤1%, and 15 patients(30.6%) reached MMR. After 12 months of treatment, 45 patients underwent hematological examination, and all the patients (100%) got CHR. 45 patients underwent cytogenetic examined, of which 41 cases (91.1%) obtained MCyR and 35 cases (77.8%) obtained CCyR. 45 cases were tested for BCR-ABL level, and 24 cases (55.3%) reached MMR. The incidence of grade Ⅲ leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia were 14.0%, 8.7% and 10.5%, respectively. Non-hematological adverse reactions were edema (64.9%), nausea (50.9%), vomiting (35.1%), rash (24.5%), fever (15.8%), bone and joint muscle pain (38.6%), diarrhea(17.6%) and liver function damage (3.5%). There were no grade IV hematological and non-hematological adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: In the real world, Domestics imatinib mesylate is effective and safe in the treatment of newly diagnosed CML-CP patients, but long-term follow-up data are still necessary to verify its long-term efficacy.

[Reference ranges of platelet and related parameters within 24 hours after birth in preterm infants with different gestational ages].

OBJECTIVE: To study the reference ranges of platelet and related parameters within 24 hours after birth in preterm infants with different gestational ages. METHODS: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a retrospective analysis was performed for the chart review data of 1 070 preterm infants with a gestational age of 23-36+6 weeks who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January to December in 2018. The reference ranges of platelet parameters were calculated for the preterm infants within 24 hours after birth. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in platelet count (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT) among the preterm infants with different gestational ages (P>0.05). The late preterm infants (34-36+6 weeks; n=667) had significantly lower mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) than the extremely preterm infants (23-27+6 weeks; n=36) and the early preterm infants (28-33+6 weeks; n=367) (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in these platelet parameters between the preterm infants with different sexes (P>0.05). The reference ranges of platelet parameters in preterm infants were calculated based on gestational age. The reference ranges of PLT and PCT were (92-376)×109/L and 0.1%-0.394% respectively, for the preterm infants with a gestational age of 23-36+6 weeks. The reference ranges of MPV and PDW were 9.208-12.172 fl and 8.390%-16.407% respectively, for the preterm infants with a gestational age of 23-36+6 weeks; the reference ranges of MPV and PDW were 9.19-11.95 fl and 9.046%-15.116% respectively, for the preterm infants with a gestational age of 34-36+6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The MPV and PDW of preterm infants with different gestational age are different within 24 hours after birth, and it is more helpful for clinical practice to formulate the reference range of MPV and PDW according to gestational age.

Efficacy of surgery combined with postoperative 125 I interstitial brachytherapy for treatment of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) is rare in children; therefore, reaching a consensus on its management is challenging and radiotherapy is limited by concerns about long-term toxicity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness and safety of surgery plus postoperative 125 I interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) for children and adolescents with AciCC of the parotid gland (PG) treated at a single institution. PROCEDURE: Sixteen patients ≤ 18 years old with AciCC of the PG treated with surgery plus 125 I IBT from 2007 to 2018 were included. Surgery was the primary treatment; ten patients underwent total gross excision and six subtotal gross excision. The matched peripheral dose was 60-120 Gy. Overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), local control rate, distant metastasis, and radiation-associated toxicities were analyzed, and factors influencing outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: During follow-up (1.8-12.6 years; mean, 6.3 years), lymph node metastasis was observed in one case, 2.6 years after 125 I IBT treatment. The five-year overall and DFS rates were 100% and 91.7%, respectively. On univariate analysis, tumor size ≥ 3 cm (100% vs 50%; P = 0.025) and extraglandular extension (100% vs 50%; P = 0.025) were significant prognostic indicators for DFS. No severe radiation-associated complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with AciCC of the PG with high-risk features can be managed using surgery plus postoperative 125 I IBT with excellent local control. Radiation-related complications were minor. Patients with facial nerve involvement can have their facial nerves preserved. Residual tumors can be safely managed using adjuvant 125 I IBT.

A regulatory mutant on TRIM26 conferring the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by inducing low immune response.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is most closely associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the complexity of its genome structure has proven challenging for the discovery of causal MHC loci or genes. We conducted a targeted MHC sequencing in 40 Cantonese NPC patients followed by a two-stage replication in 1065 NPC cases and 2137 controls of Southern Chinese descendent. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis (qRT-PCR) was used to detect gene expression status in 108 NPC and 43 noncancerous nasopharyngeal (NP) samples. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were used to assess the transcription factor binding site. We discovered that a novel SNP rs117565607_A at TRIM26 displayed the strongest association (OR = 1.909, Pcombined = 2.750 × 10-19 ). We also observed that TRIM26 was significantly downregulated in NPC tissue samples with genotype AA/AT than TT. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) test also found the TRIM26 protein expression in NPC tissue samples with the genotype AA/AT was lower than TT. According to computational prediction, rs117565607 locus was a binding site for the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1). We observed that the luciferase activity of YY1 which is binding to the A allele of rs117565607 was suppressed. ChIP data showed that YY1 was binding with T not A allele. Significance analysis of microarray suggested that TRIM26 downregulation was related to low immune response in NPC. We have identified a novel gene TRIM26 and a novel SNP rs117565607_A associated with NPC risk by regulating transcriptional process and established a new functional link between TRIM26 downregulation and low immune response in NPC.

MicroRNA-27a-mediated repression of cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 translation in asthenoteratozoospermic patients.

Cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) is an important protein in spermatozoa that plays roles in modulating sperm flagellar motility, the acrosome reaction, and gamete fusion. Spermatozoa lacking CRISP2 exhibit low sperm motility and abnormal morphology. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the reduction of CRISP2 in asthenoteratozoospermia (ATZ) remain unknown. In this study, low expression of CRISP2 protein rather than its mRNA was observed in the ejaculated spermatozoa from ATZ patients as compared with normozoospermic males. Subsequently, bioinformatic prediction, luciferase reporter assays, and microRNA-27a (miR-27a) transfection experiments revealed that miR-27a specifically targets CRISP2 by binding to its 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR), suppressing CRISP2 expression posttranscriptionally. Further evidence was provided by the clinical observation of high miR-27a expression in ejaculated spermatozoa from ATZ patients and a negative correlation between miR-27a expression and CRISP2 protein expression. Finally, a retrospective follow-up study supported that both high miR-27a expression and low CRISP2 protein expression were associated with low progressive sperm motility, abnormal morphology, and infertility. This study demonstrates a novel mechanism responsible for reduced CRISP2 expression in ATZ, which may offer a potential therapeutic target for treating male infertility, or for male contraception.

The expression of cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) and its specific regulator miR-27b in the spermatozoa of patients with asthenozoospermia.

Cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) is an important sperm protein and plays roles in spermatogenesis, modulation of flagellar motility, acrosome reaction, and gamete fusion. Clinical evidence shows a reduced CRISP2 expression in spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic patients, but the molecular mechanism underlying its reduction remains unknown. Herein, we carried out a study focusing on the CRISP2 reduction and its roles in asthenozoospermia. Initially, through analyzing CRISP2 expression and methylation on CRISP2 promoter activity in sperm, we observed a decreased expression of CRISP2 protein rather than its mRNA in the ejaculated spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic patients and no methylation in the CRISP2 promoter, suggesting CRISP2 expression may be regulated in the sperm at the posttranscriptional level. Subsequently, we found that microRNA 27b (miR-27b), predicted as a candidate regulator of CRISP2 using bioinformatics, was highly expressed in the ejaculated spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic patients. Luciferase reporter assay and transfection experiments disclosed that this microRNA could target CRISP2 by specifically binding its 3' untranslated region, suppressing CRISP2 expression. Extended clinical observation further confirmed a highly expressed miR-27b and its obviously negative correlation with CRISP2 protein expression in ejaculated spermatozoa samples from asthenozoospermic patients. Finally, we conducted a retrospective follow-up study to support that either high miR-27b expression or low CRISP2 protein expression was significantly associated with low sperm progressive motility, abnormal morphology, and infertility. Thus, this study provides the first preliminary insight into the mechanism leading to the reduced CRISP2 expression in asthenozoospermia, offering a potential therapeutic target for treating male infertility or for male contraception.