Epigenetic editing and tumor-dependent immunosuppressive signaling in head and neck malignancies

Head and neck cancer (HNC) comprises a heterogeneous variety of malignant tumors, characterized by a relatively high tumor mutation burden. Previous data have revealed that immune system dysfunction appears to serve a key role in the development and progression of HNC and established immunosuppression is vital for evading the host immune response. Despite progress in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the survival rate of patients with HNC is still low. Therefore, the present review discusses the development of novel immunotherapy approaches based on the various immune cell signaling routes that trigger drug resistance and immunosuppression. Additionally, the present review discusses the epigenetic alterations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs that drive and support HNC progression. Furthermore, the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor macrophages and myeloid cells in tumor-related immunosuppression are considered. Specifically, the molecular immune-related mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment, which lead to decreased drug sensitivity and tumor relapse, and strategies for reversing drug resistance and targeting immunosuppressive tumor networks are discussed. Deciphering these molecular mechanisms is essential for preclinical and clinical investigations in order to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, an improved understanding of these immune cell signaling pathways that drive immune surveillance, immune-driven inflammation and tumor-related immunosuppression is necessary for future personalized HNC-based therapeutic approaches.     

Sociomedical and oral factors affecting masticatory performance in an older population

Clinical Oral Investigations - To assess the sociomedical and oral factors affecting masticatory performance in a community-dwelling older population. Community-dwelling persons over 60 years were...     

Congenital Capillary Hemangioma and Its Therapeutic Approach in Infants: A Case Report

Hemangiomas, common congenital lesions in infants and children, are thought to arise when islands of angioblastic tissue fail to connect with the developing vascular system. They are not usually life-threatening. A case of congenital capillary hemangioma in an infant, which was surgically excised, is reported, and therapeutic approaches are discussed.     

Gestational diabetes mellitus and quality of life during the third trimester of pregnancy

Quality of Life Research - The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women during the third...     

Relapsed and De Novo Metastatic HER2-positive Breast Cancer Treated With Trastuzumab: Tumor Genotypes and Clinical Measures Associated With Patient Outcome

Background

We examined tumor genotype characteristics of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive relapsed (R-) and de novo (dn-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in trastuzumab-treated patients who were previously not exposed to this agent.

CK‐18 cell death markers improve the prediction of histological remission in autoimmune hepatitis during biochemical remission

Incomplete histological remission of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is associated with a reduced long‐term survival and an increased relapse rate even during biochemical remission (BR). The aim of this international multicentre study was to explore the diagnostic fidelity of cytokeratin‐18 cell death markers to noninvasively detect incomplete histological remission. Thereby, cytokeratin‐18 cell death marker M65 but not ALT and immunoglobulins was significantly higher in patients with incomplete histological remission (mHAI ≥ 4) compared to those with mHAI ≤ 3. M65 levels > 305 U/L, identified in the training cohort, facilitated the noninvasive detection of incomplete histological remission with a sensitivity of 75% and negative predictive value of 86% in the validation cohort. While BR with M65 < 305 U/L suggested complete histological remission (86%), BR with M65 > 305 U/L reduced the rate of histological remission to 60%. In conclusion, M65 may help to better select patients for or to reduce surveillance liver biopsies in the future.