• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9071-9075
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• 2014

Background: microRNAs are small non-coding RNA that control gene expression by mRNA degradation or translational inhibition. These molecules are known to play essential roles in many biological and physiological processes. miR-205 may be differentially expressed in head and neck cancers; however, there are conflicting data and localization of expression has yet to be determined. Materials and Methods: miR-205 expression was investigated in 48 cases of inflammatory, benign and malignant tumor tissue array of the neck, oronasopharynx, larynx and salivary glands by Locked Nucleic Acid in situ hybridization (LNA-ISH) technology. Results: miR-205 expression was significantly differentially expressed across all of the inflammatory, benign and malignant tumor tissues of the neck. A significant increase in miR-205 staining intensity (p<0.05) was observed from inflammation to benign and malignant tumors in head and neck tissue array, suggesting that miR-205 could be a biomarker to differentiate between cancer and non-cancer tissues. Conclusions: LNA-ISH revealed that miR-205 exhibited significant differential cytoplasmic and nuclear staining among inflammation, benign and malignant tumors of head and neck. miR-205 was not only exclusively expressed in squamous epithelial malignancy. This study offers information and a basis for a comprehensive study of the role of miR-205 that may be useful as a biomarker and/or therapeutic target in head and neck tumors.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.222-226
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• 1996

The increasing incidence of multiple primary carcinomas occuring in the upper aerodigestive tract is well documented, with the accepted incidence being as high as 20-30%. The fiberoptic endoscopy has also enabled visualization of areas previously inaccessible without general anesthesia. A prospective panendoscopic examination of the upper aerodigestive tract was peformed on 104 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head & neck in our hospital between 1989 and 1994. Five second primary cancers (4.8% ：2 stomach, 2 esophagus, 1 lung cancers) were detected endoscopically. These finding should reinforce the belief that head & neck cancer is a panmucosal disease of the aerodigestive tract that silent second primary cancers are not uncommon. So every effort should be done to detect second primary cancers in head & neck squamous cell carcinomas. Panendoscopy has proved valuable in achieving that.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

With the emerging knowledge about tumor biology specific for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck cancers, the classical understanding about the curative surgery in head and neck cancers are starting to progress, customized for their HPV-associations and ultimately specific for tumor biologic characteristics. The common rule for surgery should reflect the biologic characteristics of target tumors, but still, multi-institutional large-scale data could be scarce, due to the subjective feature of surgical treatment itself. However, the impact of HPV for margin determination is now being questioned by multiple groups, and typical example is European Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-3311 study. Here, we review the impact of viral association for surgical decision and its biological background and implications.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.240-242
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• 2010

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a very rare event, representing much less than 1% of all malignant tumors of the thyroid gland. The cancer is characterized by rapidly progressive clinical course in spite of its differentiated morphologic features. In most cases, a squamous epithelium is believed to be a result of metaplasia of a follicular epithelium, although in rare exceptions, it can originate from a remnant of the thyroglossal duct or ultimobranchial body. Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland can occur in a pure form or mixed with adenocarcinoma. Because their clinical behavior is more aggressive than that of other malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland, the tumor should be treated more vigorously at its initial stage. Recently, authors experienced one case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. We report our case with a brief review of literature.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.118-121
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• 2012

Backgrounds : To evaluated the use of FDG PET/CT for the identification of extracapsular spread(ECS) with histologic correlation in laryngeal cancer. Methods : We reviewed 79 medical records of patients who underwent of FDG PET/CT for laryngeal cancer before surgery. Results : ECS was present in 41.9%(18/43) dissected necks and in 34.5%(20/58) dissected cervical levels. There was a significant difference in the SUVmax between cervical lymph nodes with ECS and without ECS($6.39{\pm}4.53$ vs. $1.19{\pm}1.64$, p<0.001). The cut-off value for the SUVmax for differentiating with ECS from without ECS was 2.8 with the sensitivity of 85.7% and the specificity of 85.6%. Conclusion : The median SUVmax cut-off values of FDG PET/CT higher than 2.8 was associated with greater risk cervical lymph node metastasis with ECS in patients with laryngeal cancer.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2000

Objectives: Despite various attempts to preserve the normal voice in advanced laryngeal cancer, it is inevitable for many advanced laryngeal cancer patients to undergo total laryngectomy and thus making a trade off between quality and quantity of life. Laryngectomees are faced with voice loss, change in physical appearance and health deterioration which hinder their efforts to rehabilitate back into their family and employment leading to poor quality of life. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the quality of life in long term surviving laryngectomees to, define the factors which are most important in determining their present quality of life and to propose a theoretical model for quality of life after laryngectomy in Korea. Materials and Methods: From 1986 to 1995, 120 laryngectomees with no evidence of disease were followed up for at least 3years were evaluated. Each of 15 quality of life domains with a total of ten points were given for a quality of life score. Results: There was no significant difference in the physical-mental adaptation index such as general health and mental health between the laryngectomees and control group(p>0.05). However, social adaptation index such as social activity, occupational status and economic status for laryngectomees were significantly lower with 2.3, 3.5, and 4.4 points compared to control group with 8.5, 7.6, and 7.1 points respectively(p<0.05). Conclusion : Vocational and social rehabilitation should be emphasized with highest priority for improving their economic status and thus improving their quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.18-21
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• 1999

Background and Objectives: Occult neck metastasis rate of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer varies widely depending upon authors. Materials and Methods: Sixty four cases, previously untreated, of N0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent surgery as an initial treatment from 1992 to 1997 were evaluated. All had unilateral or bilateral elective neck dissection at the time of surgery for the primary. Occult neck metastasis rate was evaluated with pathologic examination of neck dissection specimen. Results: Occult neck metastasis rate by primary site was as follows. Supraglottis ipsilateral 32%(8/25) contralateral 15%(3/20), glottis ipsilateral 17%(5/30), contralateral 0%(0/22), hypopharynx ipsilateral 78%(7/9), contralateral 25%(2/8). Conclusion: Supraglottic and hypopharyngeal cancer may need elective neck treatment bilaterally. Occult neck metastasis of glottic cancer to opposite site was minimal.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4619-4622
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• 2012

Whether it is beneficial to dissect level V in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with positive lateral neck lymph nodes at levels II-IV is still controversial, especially for low risk cases. In this study, we reviewed the medical records of 47 patients who underwent 47 ipsilateral selective lateral neck dissections (levels II-IV) for previously untreated papillary thyroid carcinomas between October 2006 and October 2008 to assist in establishing the optimal strategy for lateral neck dissection in low risk PTC patients with clinically negative level V nodes. All 47 patients were confirmed to have positive lymph nodes pathologically. Seventeen (36.12%), 36 (76.6%), and 34 (72.34%) patients had positive lymph nodes in levels II, III, and IV, respectively. The mean number of pathologically positive lymph nodes was 1.7 in level II, 2.9 in level III, 2.8 in level IV. No death and distant metastasis were recorded during follow up period. Just 2 patients exhibited recurrence to lymph nodes, and only one showed nodal recurrence in ipsilateral level V, who had positive lymph nodes in all of levels II, III, and IV at initial neck surgery. In conclusion, for PTC low risk patients with clinically negative lymph nodes in level V, non-performance of level V dissection would still achieve good survival results as traditional modified radical neck dissection, with a "wait and see" strategy to be recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4853-4858
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• 2013

Objectives: To investigate whether hypoxia has an effect on regulation of multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapeutic drugs in laryngeal carcinoma cells and explore the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). Methods: Laryngeal cancer cells were cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The sensitivity of the cells to multiple drugs and levels of apoptosis induced by paclitaxel were determined by MTT assay and annexin-V/propidium iodide staining analysis, respectively. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was blocked by RNA interference. The expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ gene was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. The value of fluorescence intensity of intracellular adriamycin accumulation and retention in cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results: The sensitivity to multiple chemotherapy agents and induction of apoptosis by paclitaxel could be reduced by hypoxia (P<0.05). A the same time, the adriamycin releasing index of cells was increased (P<0.05). However, resistance acquisition subject to hypoxia in vitro was suppressed by down-regulating HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression. Conclusion: HIF-$1{\alpha}$ could be considered as a key regulator for mediating hypoxia-induced MDR in laryngeal cancer cells via inhibition of drug-induced apoptosis and decrease in intracellular drug accumulation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

Purpose: Compared to conventional radiotherapy (RT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) significantly reduces the rate of treatment-induced late toxicities in head and neck cancer. However, a clear survival benefit of IMRT over conventional RT has not yet been shown. This study is among the first comparative study to compare the survival rates between conventional RT and helical tomotherapy in head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to November 2011, 37 patients received conventional RT and 30 patients received helical tomotherapy for management of head and neck cancer. We retrospectively compared the survival rates between patients treated with conventional RT and helical tomotherapy, and analyzed the prognostic factors for survival. Results: The 1- and 2-year locoregional recurrence-free survival rates were 61.2% and 58.1% for the conventional RT group, 89.3% and 80.3% for the helical tomotherapy group, respectively. The locoregional recurrence-free survival rates of the helical tomotherapy group were significantly higher than conventional RT group (p = 0.029). There were no significant differences in the overall and distant metastasis-free survival between the two groups. RT technique, tumor stage, and RT duration were significant prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence-free survival. Conclusion: This study showed the locoregional recurrence-free survival benefits of helical tomotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancers.