• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2217-2221
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• 2016

Vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (VEGFR2) was initially identified as a receptor of VEGF on endothelial cells with a role in regulating angiogenesis during organism development and tumorigenesis. Previously, in cancer tissue, VEGFR2 has been reported to be expressed in endothelial cells. In our research, we found that VEGFR2 was expressed not only in endothelial cells but also cancer cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Knockdown of VEGFR2 in Hep2 cells could arrest the cell cycle in G0/G1, leading to a decrease in proliferation. We also present evidence that MAPK/ERK signal pathways and expression of CDK1 downstream of VEGFR2 might regulate proliferation and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, we discovered that down-regulate VEGRF2 in Hep2 cells could significantly affect the invasion ability. Taken together, our data suggest that VEGFR2 might regulate proliferation and invasion in HNSCC cancer cells in vivo.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4957-4961
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• 2014

Background: Head and neck cancer without distant metastases is amenable to various modalities of treatment. However, the stage at presentation is a very important determinant for treatment success. The present study was conducted to determine the stage-wise presentation of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the hilly regions in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, India. Materials and Methods: The hospital records for non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the only functional cancer centre of the region for the period of two-years (January 2012-December 2013) were included. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was excluded due to its staging system being different. Non-squamous histopathologies were also excluded. Patients hailing from nearby regions of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal were excluded, as were patients from non-hilly regions of Kumaon. Results: Of the 271 patients of head and neck cancer, 27 with distant metastases at diagnosis were excluded from the analysis. Of the 244 eligible patient records, 90.1% (n=222) were male, and 9.9% (n=22) were female. The proportions of patients with carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx and maxillary antrum were 31.9% (n=78), 27.9% (n=68), 20.5% (n=50), 12.7% (n=31) and 1.2% (n=3). A further 5.7% (n=14) were diagnosed as having secondary involvement of neck nodes with unknown primaries. The proportion of patients presenting in stages I, II, III, IVA and IVB were 0.8% (n=2), 2.5% (n=6), 9.4% (n=23), 51.6% (n=126) and 35.7% (n=87) respectively. Conclusions: An abysmally low proportion (3.3%) of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients presented in the early stages (I and II). A vast majority of the patients (88.1%) presented with stages IVA and IVB. Not only does this reflect a poor therapeutic outlook, but also exposes the dire need for programmes focusing on cancer awareness and early detection in the region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.885-890
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• 2012

Background: Head and neck cancers are prevalent in Thailand, in particular in the southern region of the country. However, survival with a large data set has not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the survival figures and the prognostic factors in a cohort of patients treated in a university hospital located in the south of Thailand. Patients and Methods: Consecutive new cases of primary carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharyx, hypopharynx and larynx, treated at Songklanagarind Hospital during 2002 to 2004, were analyzed. The 5-year overall survival rates were obtained by the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were identified through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: A total 1,186 cases were analyzed. Two-thirds (66.6%) of the cases were at advanced stage (stage III & IV) at presentation. The five-year overall survivals for the whole cohort, oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx were 24.1%, 25.91%, 19.2%, 13.4%, 38.0% respectively. Stage and treatment type were strong prognostic factors for all sites. An age ${\geq}$ 80 years was associated with poor survival in oral cavity and larynx cancer. Conclusions: The results revealed remarkably poor outcomes of the patients in the series, indicating a strong need to increase the proportion of early stage presentations and maximize the treatment efficacy to improving outcomes. Very old patients are of particular concern for treatment care of oral cavity and larynx cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3535-3539
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• 2013

Head and neck cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Two genes GSTM1 and GSTT1 involved in phase II of carcinogen detoxification have been frequently studied in the literature. Their null genotypes are thought to be associated with increased head and neck cancer risk. However, the published reviews are not up to date and many important papers have been skipped. The current literature review was restricted to the null genotypes of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes with special emphasis on the genotypic status. We found that the size of study sample varied greatly and the oral cavity cancer was more influenced by GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions. With respect to ethnicity Asians are more prone to head and neck cancers with these null genotypes as compared to Europeans and Americans. The current review showed significant associations (OR=9.0, 95%CI; 1.4-9.5; OR=3.7, 95%CI; 1.4-9.5) of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes with head and neck cancers. Review confirms the data of previous reviews that GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms may be risk factors for cancer initiation.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.73-77
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• 2020

Ovarian cancer is common malignant disease with high mortality in the female. However, lymph node metastasis in the head and neck of ovarian cancer is very rare than in para-aortic, pelvic lymph node. A 49-year-old female patient came to our clinic with a left neck mass. After total thyroidectomy and left selective neck dissection for the cervical neck level II, III, IV, V, VI for ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer, she had already undergone chemotherapy (Paclitaxel+Carboplatin) 18 month ago. CT scan showed only lymph node enlargement in left neck level II. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed a hypermetabolic lesion in same area but no other hypermetabolic lesion, especially in the pelvic and abdominal cavity. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed metastatic carcinoma. The serum level of CA-125 was elevated to 43.8U/mL, whereas other tumor markers (CA 19-9, CEA) were in the normal range. She underwent a revision of selective neck lymph node dissection for the cervical neck levels I, II, and III, and on the review of surgical pathology, metastatic carcinoma was suspected. Thus, we performed immunohistochemical staining for the tissue; as a result, it was finally diagnosed as metastatic ovarian cancer (positive for CK7, ER and PR, and negative for CK20). Adjuvant chemotherapy (Paclitaxel+Carboplatin) was planned on the tumor board, and the patient successfully received chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.260-264
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• 1997

Metastatic cancer presenting as a cervical cyst is uncommon, and often misdiagnosed as branchial cleft cyst. Authors experienced two cases which presented clinically with features of branchial cleft cyst, but were subsequently found to be metastatic cancer. Radiologic examination and fine needle aspiration biopsy proved to be non-diagnostic, and pathologic findings after surgical excision showed metastatic cancer. Further evaluation and examination were made to find out the primary focus, which revealed tonsillar squamous cell cancer and thyroid papillary cancer in each case. When cervical cysts are noted in aged patients, it is mandatory to rule out metastatic cancer until it is proven otherwise. Surgical excision and pathologic diagnosis should be always accompanied to make correct diagnosis and further treatment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1991

The purpose of conservation surgery is complete eradication of the lesion with maximal maintenance of the proper function of the larynx. But the re are various methods of conservation surgery for the laryngeal cancer because of the unique embriological and anatomical characteristics of the larynx, which is the narrowest portion of the upper airway. The authors experienced 24 cases of conservation surgery for laryngeal cancer(7 in supraglottie cancer, 13 in glottic cancer, 4 in transglottic cancer) during recent 5 years and performed retrospective analysis of the cases. The result shows 91.6% of overall 3 years survival rate(87.5% of disease free 3 year survival rate). The authors concluded that conservation surgery for the laryngeal cancer preserve the function of larynx as possible and high cure rates were achieved by postoperative radiation therapy for the incomplete resection margin.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.35-38
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• 2018

Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a rare malignant neoplasm that occasionally occurs in the large intestine (colon), followed by the pancreas, ovary, lung, prostate, and breast. It is characterized by large amounts of extracellular epithelial mucin that contains tumor cell nests. We herein present a unique case of MAC originating from minor salivary gland, the second to be reported in literature in South Korea. We report a case of MAC in the tongue considered to be developed from minor salivary gland with a review of literature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6415-6418
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to assess EGFR and p53 expression in head and neck tumors among Sudanese patients using immunohistochemistry. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was performed on 150 samples from patients diagnosed with HNCs as well as 50 from individuals with benign head and neck tumors. EGFR and p53 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: EGFR was expressed in 126/150 (84%) of HNCS and 6/50 (12%) benign head and neck tumors where as p53 was expressed in 29/150 (19.3%) of HNCs and 2/50 (4%) of benign head and neck tumors, with significance at p values of 0.001 and 0.009 respectively. Conclusions: There is a significant association between EGFR, P53 expression and head and neck cancers among Sudanese patients.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.53-56
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• 2018

Despite adequate diagnostic work-up, unknown primary carcinoma(UPC) of the head and neck cannot be detected in approximately 2- 3% of patients.(1,2) There are several explanations for a cervical metastasis in the absence of a primary tumor. Here in, we report 2 patients, who were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer after treatment of unknown primary cancer of the neck. Both patients had radical neck dissections and chemoradiation therapy, but 1 patient showed nasopharyngeal cancers 4 years after treatment and the other patient at 9 months after treatment for the unknown primary cancer. Therefore, we report 2 cases of nasopharyngeal cancer, which were diagnosed after treatment of unknown head and neck primary site.