Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shirley Lewis, Saket Pandey, Naveen Salins, Jayita Deodhar, Vijay Patil, Tejpal Gupta, Sarbani Ghosh Laskar, Ashwini Budrukkar, Vedang Murthy, Amit Joshi, Kumar Prabhash, Sudhir Nair, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Vanita Noronha, Jai Prakash Agarwal
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of baseline distress in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radical intent radiotherapy, finding that 56% of patients had clinically significant distress. Factors predictive of distress included low socioeconomic status, presence of proliferative growth, tumor site, comorbidity, and medical devices at baseline. Patients with low socioeconomic status had higher distress levels, highlighting the need for interventions to alleviate distress.
Article
Oncology
Bryan Gascon, Aliza A. Panjwani, Olivia Mazzurco, Madeline Li
Summary: Head and neck cancer patients have higher rates of emotional distress compared to other cancer types and the general population. This study compares the prevalence of emotional distress in head and neck cancer patients using different screening measures and explores the relationship between significant distress and cancer-related survival.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Shrikant B. Mali
Summary: Liquid biopsy is a valuable tool in personalized medicine, providing real-time monitoring of cancer progression and patient follow-up. This minimally invasive procedure analyzes circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and various circulating tumor-derived materials, such as ctDNA, miRNAs, and EVs. CTC analysis has significant implications for prognosis, minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, treatment selection, and cancer patient monitoring.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Eden R. Brauer, Stephanie Lazaro, Charlene L. Williams, David A. Rapkin, Amy B. Madnick, Roger Dafter, Guo Cheng, Ashleigh Porter, Elliot Abemayor, Wanxing Chai-Ho, Elizabeth Morasso, Andrew Erman, Dinesh Chhetri, Maie St John, Deborah J. Wong
Summary: Psychosocial distress is common among head and neck cancer patients, with 57% reporting clinical distress in this study. Factors such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with clinical distress. A high percentage of distressed patients received same-day psychosocial evaluation, suggesting the feasibility of implementing a brief screening protocol in routine oncology care.
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Y. Ye, D. D. Jensen, C. T. Viet, H. L. Pan, W. M. Campana, M. Amit, M. D. Boada
Summary: Head and neck cancer not only has a high mortality rate, but also causes severe pain that affects patients' quality of life. The pathophysiology of HNC pain involves anatomical, histopathological, and molecular differences between cancers. The tumor microenvironment and peripheral nerves play a crucial role in HNC pain, and there is evidence of a functional loop of cross-activation between them. Understanding the mechanisms underlying pain and cancer progression in HNC can help develop targeted treatments for both conditions.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Mayur D. Mody, James W. Rocco, Sue S. Yom, Robert Haddad, Nabil F. Saba
Summary: Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer worldwide, with the predominant risk factors being tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and oncogenic viruses. Treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach with surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy, and is challenging due to site-specific and histology-specific variations.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Simon N. Rogers, Camilla Monssen, Gerald M. Humphris, Derek Lowe, Anastasios Kanatas
Summary: The study revealed that around one in ten head and neck cancer patients report high levels of fear of cancer recurrence during routine follow-up consultations, with the rate being one in three for female patients under the age of 55. This group requires specialized attention and could be the focus of an intervention trial.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Sebastian Adeberg, Christina Sauer, Lena Lambert, Sebastian Regnery, Paul Windisch, Karim Zaoui, Christian Freudlsperger, Julius Moratin, Benjamin Farnia, Christoph Nikendei, Juergen Krauss, Johannes C. Ehrenthal, Rami El Shafie, Juliane Hoerner-Rieber, Laila Koenig, Sati Akbaba, Kristin Lang, Thomas Held, Stefan Rieken, Juergen Debus, Hans-Christoph Friederich, Imad Maatouk
Summary: This single-center, single-arm trial investigated the feasibility of a psycho-oncological care program for patients with head and neck cancer or brain malignancies to reduce psychological distress and improve compliance with radiotherapy. The study found a high level of psychological distress and demand for psycho-oncological support among patients, but low utilization of the intervention. Future studies should focus on reducing barriers and improving compliance to psycho-oncological services by these patients.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Shannon M. Nugent, Christopher G. Slatore, Kara Winchell, Robert Handley, Daniel Clayburgh, Ravi Chandra, Elizabeth R. Hooker, Sara J. Knight, Benjamin J. Morasco
Summary: This study investigated the use of prescription opioid medications for up to 2 years following a diagnosis of head and neck cancer (HNC), and examined the association with moderate or high daily opioid prescription dose. The results showed that 7.8% of patients (n=428) were still receiving moderate or high-dose opioid therapy two years after HNC diagnosis. Patients with at least moderate pain (18%, n=996) had 2.48 times higher odds of receiving a moderate or higher opioid dose at 2 years post diagnosis compared to other patients.
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sarah Thilges, Patricia Mumby, James Sinacore, Joseph Clark, Cheryl Czerlanis
Summary: Head and neck cancers (HNC) and their treatments can cause physical and functional impairment as well as psychological distress. This study aimed to improve the health-related quality of life of HNC patients through a cognitive behavioral intervention. The results showed that the intervention had a positive effect on the patients' self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, psychological symptoms, and overall quality of life.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2023)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Raniv D. Rojo, Jenny L. Ren, Demis N. Lipe, Hoda Badr, Sanjay Shete, Ehab Y. Hanna, Cielito C. Reyes-Gibby
Summary: This study assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of neuropathic pain (NP) among head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors through a cross-sectional survey. The results showed that NP remained prevalent in HNC survivors, and severe pain was more common among those with NP. Age, surgery, depression, and comorbidities were identified as risk factors for NP.
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
(2022)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Punam A. Patel, Lavanya Nagappan, Daohai Yu, Xiaoning Liu, Cecelia E. Schmalbach
Summary: The study revealed that female patients, younger individuals, smokers, and those requiring higher doses of opioids during hospital stay are more likely to experience inadequate pain control postoperatively. These patients could benefit from additional education, earlier follow-up visits, and a comprehensive nonopioid pain management regimen.
OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Ashley Hinther, Steven C. Nakoneshny, Shamir P. Chandarana, T. Wayne Matthews, Robert Hart, Christiaan Schrag, Jennifer Matthews, C. David McKenzie, Gordon H. Fick, Joseph C. Dort
Summary: Chronic opioid use is a global health issue, often first introduced through surgery. Multimodal analgesia (MMA) aims to reduce opioid use in surgical patients, but its impact on major head and neck surgery has not been studied. This research found that MMA is effective in pain control and reducing opioids in patients undergoing head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction, improving early postoperative pain management.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Enrico Antonio Lo Faso, Orazio Gambino, Roberto Pirrone
Summary: The review focuses on delineation methods for head-neck cancer tumors, emphasizing the importance of multimodal images in radiotherapy. A comparison among different approaches highlights the gap in performance between computerized and manual methods.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Nicole M. Mott, Michelle L. Mierzwa, Keith A. Casper, Jennifer L. Shah, Jon Mallen-St Clair, Allen S. Ho, Zachary S. Zumsteg, Mark E. P. Prince, Lesly A. Dossett, Michelle M. Chen
Summary: This study aimed to compare the financial hardship of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) to patients with other cancers, focusing on the domains of coping behaviors and psychologic response. The results showed that patients with HNC had higher levels of hardship in coping behaviors but similar levels in psychologic response compared to patients with other cancers.
JCO ONCOLOGY PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
N. G. Maher, Y. Z. Chiang, X. Badoux, L. W. Vonthethoff, D. F. Murrell
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2016)
Review
Oncology
N. G. Maher, H. Collgros, P. Uribe, S. Ch'ng, M. Rajadhyaksha, P. Guitera
Article
Dermatology
N. G. Maher, A. Solinas, R. A. Scolyer, S. Puig, G. Pellacani, P. Guitera
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Nigel G. Maher, Annalisa Solinas, Richard A. Scolyer, Pascale Guitera
ORAL SURGERY ORAL MEDICINE ORAL PATHOLOGY ORAL RADIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
N. G. Maher, J. de Looze, G. R. Hoffman
AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL
(2014)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Nigel Gordon Maher, Gary Russell Hoffman
JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
(2014)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Nigel Gordon Maher, Gary Russell Hoffman
JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
(2014)
Article
Surgery
Anders Sideris, Amshuman Rao, Nigel Maher, Andrew Parker, Julia Crawford, Robert Smee, Ian Jacobson, Richard Gallagher
Summary: Acinic cell carcinoma (AcCC) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands, with surgery as the first-line treatment showing excellent survival outcomes. The clinico-pathological features and treatment methods are associated with survival results, with certain high-risk factors linked to poor survival outcomes.
ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Pathology
Ismael A. Vergara, Karina Aivazian, Matteo S. Carlino, Alexander D. Guminski, Nigel G. Maher, Kerwin F. Shannon, Sydney Ch'ng, Robyn P. M. Saw, Georgina Long, James S. Wilmott, Richard A. Scolyer
Summary: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are the most common malignant tumors in humans and are usually easily managed by surgery or topical therapies. However, metastatic BCCs are rare and may have distinct biological characteristics. Through genomic profiling, aberrant activation of Hedgehog signaling and alterations in multiple signaling pathways were identified in metastatic BCCs. The presence of clonal origin in matched local recurrences and metastases suggests that molecular profiling can assist in determining the nature and origin of poorly differentiated metastatic tumors. Dysregulation of the Hippo and PI3K/AKT pathways were implicated in the metastatic progression of BCCs, making them potential therapeutic targets.
Article
Pathology
Nigel G. Maher, Richard A. Scolyer, Andrew J. Colebatch
Summary: Acquired and congenital melanocytic naevi are common benign neoplasms, and understanding their biology and genetics can help diagnose melanocytic tumours correctly and gain insights into naevus aetiology and melanomagenesis.
Article
Pathology
Nigel G. Maher, Natasha Prosser, Karina Aivazian, Andrew J. Colebatch, Peter M. Ferguson, Rooshdiya Z. Karim, Catriona A. Mckenzie, Robert V. Rawson, Serigne N. Lo, Richard A. Scolyer
Summary: This study compares the interobserver reproducibility of individual subtypes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using the 4th edition World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Skin Tumours (CoST) definitions. The results show that some BCC subtypes have high interobserver agreement, while others have moderate agreement. The study suggests the need for more precise definitions of BCC subtypes and recommends reporting BCC subtypes using a two-tiered risk grouping method.
Article
Oncology
Tuba N. Gide, Elizabeth C. Paver, Zarwa Yaseen, Nigel Maher, Nurudeen Adegoke, Alexander M. Menzies, Ines Pires da Silva, James S. Wilmott, Georgina V. Long, Richard A. Scolyer
Summary: This study evaluated the association between LAG-3 expression and clinical outcomes in metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. The results showed that LAG-3 expression was related to treatment response and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and patients with ≥ 1% LAG-3+ cells had longer progression-free survival.
Letter
Dermatology
N. G. Maher, P. Guitera
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2017)
Letter
Dermatology
N. G. Maher, T. P. Blumetti, E. E. Gomes, H. M. Cheng, L. Satgunaseelan, S. Lo, G. G. Rezze, R. A. Scolyer, P. Guitera
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2017)