Review
Oncology
Morena Fasano, Ida D'Onofrio, Maria Paola Belfiore, Antonio Angrisani, Valentina Caliendo, Carminia Maria Della Corte, Mario Pirozzi, Sergio Facchini, Marianna Caterino, Cesare Guida, Valerio Nardone, Alfonso Reginelli, Salvatore Cappabianca
Summary: This review discusses the role of clinical management, geriatric evaluation, and therapeutic approaches in elderly patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Elderly HNSCC patients are often frail with multiple comorbidities and may receive suboptimal treatment. The review summarizes different strategies for the clinical management of elderly HNSCC patients.
Article
Oncology
Kimberley L. Kiong, Christopher M. K. L. Yao, Fang-Yu Lin, Diana Bell, Renata Ferrarotto, Randal S. Weber, Carol M. Lewis
Summary: A study found that a longer time to surgery (≥34 days) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients leads to significantly worse distant metastasis-free rate and disease-free survival rate, but no significant differences in overall survival and locoregional recurrence rate.
Article
Immunology
Mintao Xiao, Xinyi Zhang, Duoli Zhang, Shuai Deng, Anfu Zheng, Fukuan Du, Jing Shen, Lin Yue, Tao Yi, Zhangang Xiao, Yueshui Zhao
Summary: This study reveals the heterogeneity of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and their underlying mechanisms in the formation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The functional diversity and signal transduction of CSCs are found to play a crucial role in the progression of HNSCC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sindhu Nair, James A. Bonner, Markus Bredel
Summary: EGFR is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and anti-EGFR strategies have shown some clinical benefit but often lead to resistance. Mutations in various domains of the EGFR gene can impact drug binding, radiation response, and overall survival in HNSCC patients. Understanding the EGFR mutational landscape and its effects on treatment resistance can help stratify patients for targeted therapies and maximize therapeutic benefits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Su Il Kim, Seon Rang Woo, Joo Kyung Noh, Min Kyeong Lee, Young Chan Lee, Jung Woo Lee, Moonkyoo Kong, Seong-Gyu Ko, Young-Gyu Eun
Summary: This study examined the clinical significance of cancer stem cell (CSC) biomarker genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and found that the CSC gene expression signature is associated with the prognosis of HNSCC. It may help in personalized treatments, especially in cases with HPV (-) status.
Article
Oncology
Trisha M. Wise-Draper, Shuchi Gulati, Sarah Palackdharry, Benjamin H. Hinrichs, Francis P. Worden, Matthew O. Old, Neal E. Dunlap, John M. Kaczmar, Yash Patil, Muhammed Kashif Riaz, Alice Tang, Jonathan Mark, Chad Zender, Ann M. Gillenwater, Diana Bell, Nicky Kurtzweil, Maria Mathews, Casey L. Allen, Michelle L. Mierzwa, Keith Casper, Roman Jandarov, Mario Medvedovic, J. Jack Lee, Nusrat Harun, Vinita Takiar, Maura Gillison
Summary: The study investigates the clinical activity and survival impact of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The results show a significant improvement in one-year disease-free survival rate for intermediate-risk patients, while no significant improvement was observed for high-risk patients.
CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Zhou, Xiaoshen Wang
Summary: This review provides a detailed illustration of the biology, genomic features, and immune landscapes of HPV-associated HNSCC, supporting the synergistic effect of radioimmunotherapy. Current evidence and ongoing clinical trials suggest the potential of radioimmunotherapy in recurrent/metastatic or definitive settings. Future challenges include optimization of radiotherapy and the incorporation of novel therapeutic options.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Kamila Romanowska, Agnieszka Sobecka, Agnieszka A. Rawluszko-Wieczorek, Wiktoria M. Suchorska, Wojciech Golusinski
Summary: Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide, with molecular pathogenesis involving cell cycle disorders, intercellular signaling, proliferation, squamous cell differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition to genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations such as DNA methylation and histone modifications play a key role in promoting cancer formation and progression, making them potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HNSCC.
Article
Oncology
Kimberley L. Kiong, Diana Bell, Christopher M. K. L. Yao, Renata Ferrarotto, Carol M. Lewis
Summary: Complete pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas is a good prognostic factor. Multifocal regression and major pathologic response after NAC can impact locoregional control in HNSCC patients, with multifocal disease and extranodal extension being significant predictors of locoregional recurrence. The study suggests that multifocal regression and less than MPR after NAC in HNSCC should be routinely reported.
Review
Oncology
Dominic H. Moon, David J. Sher
Summary: Up to 40% of patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma have oligometastatic disease, which is associated with improved overall survival. Local ablative therapy and radiation therapy have shown promise in improving outcomes. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is a less invasive alternative to surgical resection, but more research is needed to determine its role.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Lin Wang, Yupu Wang, Nannan Han, Xu Wang, Min Ruan
Summary: A study showed that higher HPRT expression in HNSCC tissue is associated with poor prognosis, and overexpression of HPRT can increase the expression of EMT markers by interacting with STAT3. Knocking down HPRT significantly inhibits tumor growth and enhances the anticancer effect of EGFR inhibitors against HNSCC xenografts.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lin Fu, Quanxiu Jin, Qianze Dong, Qingchang Li
Summary: The study identified that AATF is overexpressed in human HNSCC, correlating with poor patient survival and resistance to cisplatin, possibly through regulation of the STAT3/survivin signaling pathway. AATF could serve as a potential therapeutic target in HNSCC by promoting cisplatin resistance and reducing apoptosis.
ONCOTARGETS AND THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Felipe Nor, Carolina Nor, Leticia W. Bento, Zhaocheng Zhang, Walter A. Bretz, Jacques E. Nor
Summary: The study showed that Brazilian red propolis has a significant inhibitory effect on head and neck cancer stem cells, reducing the percentage of stem cells, decreasing the number of orospheres, and lowering the expression of stem cell markers.
ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Vaishali Chandel, Saurabh Maru, Arun Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Ashok Sharma, Brijesh Rathi, Dhruv Kumar
Summary: Head and Neck tumors exhibit highly altered metabolism, with cancer cells utilizing different pathways for energy production. Monocarboxylate transporters play a crucial role in regulating lactate and maintaining pH balance, essential for cancer cell survival and growth control.
Article
Oncology
Zongtai Qi, Yating Liu, Michael Mints, Riley Mullins, Reilly Sample, Travis Law, Thomas Barrett, Angela L. Mazul, Ryan S. Jackson, Stephen Y. Kang, Patrik Pipkorn, Anuraag S. Parikh, Itay Tirosh, Joseph Dougherty, Sidharth V. Puram
Summary: Tumors are composed of diverse cells rather than a uniform ball of cells. Recent studies have shown that deconvolution algorithms can be used to computationally estimate cell-type proportions from gene expression data, although their performance in tumor tissues remains unclear.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Yang Yan, He Hailun, Yang Fenghui, Liu Pingting, Lei Lei, Zhao Zhili, Hu Tao
Summary: This study evaluated the role of Streptococcus mutans dexA gene in the structure and microecological distribution of multispecies biofilms. The results showed that deletion of S. mutans dexA gene can re-modulate the biofilm structure and microbiota composition, leading to decreased cariogenicity.
MOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jun-Jie Zhou, Xiao-Hong Li, Peng-Yu He, Fu-Yu Qi, Muhammad Wajid Ullah, Shu-Jin Li, Yuan-Tong Liu, Lin-Lin Bu, Guang Yang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: A newly developed multifunctional nanocomposite combining photothermal therapy and immune checkpoint blockade shows potential for controlling local recurrence of HNSCC.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wen Su, Wei Qiu, Shu-Jin Li, Shuo Wang, Jun Xie, Qi-Chao Yang, Jiming Xu, Junjie Zhang, Zhigang Xu, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: This study reports a combinational therapeutic strategy that combines tumor microenvironment-reactive oxygen species/pH dual-responsive signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 inhibitor nanoprodrugs with oncolytic herpes simplex virus 1 virotherapy to enhance immunotherapy. This strategy successfully activates robust T-cell-dependent antitumor responses, potentiating immune checkpoint blockade effects against local recurrence and pulmonary metastasis in preclinical cold murine triple-negative breast cancer and syngeneic oral cancer models.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Biao Huang, Tao Tang, Shi-Hui Chen, Hao Li, Zhi-Jun Sun, Zhi-Lin Zhang, Mingxi Zhang, Ran Cui
Summary: The authors designed a near-infrared-IIb emitting Mn single-atom catalyst for imaging-guided therapy to alleviate ROS-mediated neuroinflammation and obtain feedback of therapeutic effect in mice with traumatic brain injury. The catalyst promoted the reconstruction of blood-brain barrier and recovery of neurological function.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shu-Cheng Wan, Meng-Jie Ye, Qi-Chao Yang, Tian Zhang, Meng-Jie Zhang, Xian-Bin Ma, Ji-Ming Xu, Shuo Wang, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Lei-Lei Yang, Xue-Meng Shen, Zhigang Xu, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Pyroptosis triggers antitumor immunity and this study introduces a dual-responsive diselenide-based pyroptosis inducer that has excellent tumor microenvironment targeting effects. It can remodel the immunostimulated tumor microenvironment and trigger a robust immune response. Combined with αPD-1 therapy, it effectively inhibits the growth of remote tumors and prolongs survival.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Liang Mao, Jun-Jie Zhou, Yao Xiao, Qi-Chao Yang, Shao-Chen Yang, Shuo Wang, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Hong-Gang Xiong, Hai-Jun Yu, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Combining immunogenic radiotherapy with anti-PD-L1 treatment can enhance the immune response in immunotherapy-resistant HNSCC mouse models.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Boxin Zhang, Hao Li, Yuan-Tong Liu, Dian Xiong, Lu Zhang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: This study investigated the spatial architecture of immune cells in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). It identified chemokine receptors associated with TLSs and portrayed the cellular atlas using multiplex immunohistochemistry. The study also explored the functions and evolutionary trajectory of cells in TLSs, and proposed a method to enhance the antitumor immune response by inducing neogenesis TLSs in HNSC.
Article
Oncology
Yuan -Yuan Wang, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Cong-Fa Huang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), has shown promise in cancer treatment but its efficacy is limited. This study focuses on understanding the alterations in the systemic immune system and immune macroenvironment and explores the role of the spleen, especially erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs), in tumor progression and immunotherapy. The findings suggest the potential for further research on EPCs and their mechanisms in tumor treatment.
Article
Immunology
Jie Liu, Wen -Ping Lin, Wen Su, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Qi-Chao Yang, Shuo Wang, Ting-Guan Sun, Cong-Fa Huang, Xiao-Long Wang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Combining EZH2 inhibitor and MDSC inhibitor can improve the response rate to immune-checkpoint-blocking therapy and reverse HNSCC-specific immunotherapeutic resistance, making it a promising strategy for overcoming resistance to ICB therapy.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
H. Li, S. -W. Zhu, J. -J. Zhou, D. -R Chen, J. Liu, Z. -Z Wu, W. -Y Wang, M. -J Zhang, Z. -J Sun
Summary: Immune checkpoint blockade therapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 shows limited efficacy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), however, recent findings suggest that the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in tumor tissue is associated with better prognosis and response to therapy. This study analyzed TCGA-HNSCC data and identified an immune classification for the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNSCC and found that TLS enrichment was correlated with improved prognosis and response to immune checkpoint blockade treatment. Further experiments demonstrated that inducing TLS formation enhanced the response to PD-1 blockade treatment in HPV- HNSCC mouse models by increasing the presence of specific immune cells in the TME. The results suggest that inducing TLS formation could be a potential therapeutic approach for improving the response rate to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in HPV- HNSCC patients.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jun Xie, Shaowei Wang, Yunhong Zhong, Ming Gao, Xuezhang Tian, Liting Zhang, Dongli Pan, Qingsong Qin, Bing Wu, Ke Lan, Zhi-Jun Sun, Junjie Zhang
Summary: Oncolytic viruses encoding various transgenes have been used to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, but the antiviral restriction factors that limit viral replication have been overlooked. In this study, researchers found that expressing a bacterial E3 ubiquitin ligase can effectively counteract a restriction factor and improve viral replication and therapeutic efficacy.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qi-Chao Yang, Shuo Wang, Yuan-Tong Liu, An Song, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Shu-Cheng Wan, Hui-Min Li, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: PCSK9 expression is upregulated in HNSCC tissues and higher expression is associated with poorer prognosis. Inhibition of PCSK9 suppresses cancer cell stemness via LDLR-dependent mechanism. PCSK9 inhibition enhances CD8(+) T cell infiltration, reduces MDSCs, and improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 ICB therapy in HNSCC.
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Meng-Jie Zhang, Jie Liu, Shu-Cheng Wan, Jia-Xing Li, Shuo Wang, Nyimi Bushabu Fidele, Cong-Fa Huang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: The study reveals that CSRP2 plays a crucial role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis. CSRP2 is involved in the regulation of cancer stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HNSCC. This research provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HNSCC.
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liang Zhang, Shu-Cheng Wan, Jianyu Zhang, Meng-Jie Zhang, Qi-Chao Yang, Boxin Zhang, Wu-Yin Wang, Jianwei Sun, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Hexiang Deng, Zhi-Jun Sun, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown potential as porous materials for cancer phototherapy due to their unique characteristics. However, the aggregation-caused quenching effect and apoptosis resistance limit their effectiveness. This study demonstrated that linking AIEgens into COF networks was an effective strategy for inducing pyroptosis and enhancing antitumor immunity. The synergized system of AIE COF and αPD-1 effectively eradicated tumors and inhibited recurrence and metastasis in a tumor model.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Yang Yan, Yuehong Wang, Li Kun, Hongbo Zhou, Hongyu Zhang, Yingming Yang, Zhili Zhao
Summary: This study evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of the combination of mind mapping and problem-based learning (MBL) in the prosthodontics course for Chinese dental students. The results show that MBL can enhance students' motivation, improve memory of knowledge, strengthen discipline connection, and raise teamwork.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
