Prognoses and improvement for head and neck cancers diagnosed in Europe in early 2000s: The EUROCARE-5 population-based study

BackgroundHead and neck (H&N) cancers are a heterogeneous group of malignancies, affecting various sites, with different prognoses. The aims of this study are to analyse survival for patients with H&N cancers in relation to tumour location, to assess the change in survival between European countries, and to investigate whether survival improved over time.MethodsWe analysed about 250,000 H&N cancer cases from 86 cancer registries (CRs). Relative survival (RS) was estimated by sex, age, country and stage. We described survival time trends over 1999–2007, using the period approach. Model based survival estimates of relative excess risks (RERs) of death were also provided by country, after adjusting for sex, age and sub-site.ResultsFive-year RS was the poorest for hypopharynx (25%) and the highest for larynx (59%). Outcome was significantly better in female than in male patients. In Europe, age-standardised 5-year survival remained stable from 1999–2001 to 2005–2007 for laryngeal cancer, while it increased for all the other H&N cancers. Five-year age-standardised RS was low in Eastern countries, 47% for larynx and 28% for all the other H&N cancers combined, and high in Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK), and Northern Europe (62% and 46%). Adjustment for sub-site narrowed the difference between countries. Fifty-four percent of patients was diagnosed at advanced stage (regional or metastatic). Five-year RS for localised cases ranged between 42% (hypopharynx) and 74% (larynx).ConclusionsThis study shows survival progresses during the study period. However, slightly more than half of patients were diagnosed with regional or metastatic disease at diagnosis. Early diagnosis and timely start of treatment are crucial to reduce the European gap to further improve H&N cancers outcome.     

Value of PET/CT 3D visualization of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma extended to mandible

Purpose

To study an original 3D visualization of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma extending to the mandible by using [18F]-NaF PET/CT and [18F]-FDG PET/CT imaging along with a new innovative FDG and NaF image analysis using dedicated software. The main interest of the 3D evaluation is to have a better visualization of bone extension in such cancers and that could also avoid unsatisfying surgical treatment later on.

A case report of free forearm dermal flap reconstruction in a patient with tongue cancer and psoriasis vulgaris

Dermal flap reconstruction in the oral cavity in a patient complicated with psoriasis vulgaris has not been described yet. Here, we report the case of a 33-year-old man with untreated psoriasis vulgaris who was diagnosed with right tongue SCC (T4aN0M0). Surgery is our preferred approach in such cases, and flap reconstruction was deemed necessary after resection. Because of psoriasis vulgaris, the donor site exhibited erythema, rash, and scaling. Surgery comprising forearm dermal flap reconstruction following palliation of cutis symptoms was performed. Currently, 2 years after surgery, there have been no symptoms of psoriasis vulgaris in the oral cavity and no tumor recurrence.     

Melanoma-associated antigen A11 reduces erlotinib and afatinib efficacy in head and neck cancer

Melanoma-associated antigen A (MAGE-A) proteins are members of the cancer/testis antigens (CTA), and the expression of these proteins is almost exclusively limited to malignant cells, making them an attractive treatment target. MAGE-A expression is correlated with poor overall survival in several cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Among others, MAGE-A11 was found to be associated with resistance to different antineoplastic and targeted compounds, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We searched The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database with a focus on MAGE-A and found that MAGE-A overexpression is a common event in HNSCC (27.5%). Furthermore, MAGE-A overexpression was correlated with significantly reduced overall survival (35.45 months vs. 64.78 months, P = 0.0173). In particular, MAGE-A11 overexpression was found in 9% of specimens. We then examined MAGE-A11 expression, the efficacy of EGFR and the EGFR mutational status and the effects of the pan-HER (human EGFR) TKIs erlotinib and afatinib in HNSCC cell lines. Next, we used a model of stable MAGE-A11 overexpression to demonstrate that MAGE-A11 impaired the efficacy of erlotinib and afatinib. In summary, our study provides evidence that MAGE-A11 contributes to erlotinib and afatinib resistance in head and neck cancer cell lines.     

紫丹银屑颗粒联合窄谱中波紫外线治疗血虚风燥证寻常型银屑病的临床分析

目的:观察紫丹银屑颗粒联合窄谱中波紫外线治疗血虚风燥证寻常型银屑病的临床疗效及对血清白介素-17(IL-17),IL-22和IL-23的影响。方法:将符合条件的116例患者采用随机按数字表法分成对照组和观察组各58例。对照组采用窄谱中波紫外线(NB-UVB)治疗。观察组在对照组治疗的基础上加用紫丹银屑颗粒,4 g/次,3次/d。两组疗程均为8周。所有患者进行3个月随访,记录复发情况。于治疗前、治疗后和治疗结束后1,2,3个月进行皮损面积和严重程度指数(PASI)评分;记录复发时间。进行治疗前后皮肤病生活质量指数(DLQI)和瘙痒程度视觉模拟(VAS)评分,检测治疗前后IL-17,IL-22,IL-23水平。结果:治疗后观察组PASI,DLQI和VAS评分均低于对照组(P0.05,P0.01);观察组临床有效率为93.1%,对照组为84.48%,观察组高于对照组,但差异无统计学意义;在治疗后3个月的随访期间,观察组复发率为40.74%,低于对照组的63.26%(P0.05);观察组平均复发时间长于对照组(P0.05);治疗后观察组血清IL-17,IL-22,IL-23水平均低于对照组(P0.01)。结论:紫丹银屑颗粒联合窄谱中波紫外线治疗血虚风燥证寻常型银屑病,能减轻皮损和瘙痒,提高患者的生活质量,并能稳定病情,降低复发率,同时可调节血清IL-17,IL-22,IL-23等辅助性T细胞17(TH17)细胞因子。