• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most frequent form of oral cancer and holds the eighth position in the cancer incidence ranking. OSCC patients are treated by classical therapeutic modalities consisting of surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. But OSCC still shows significant mortality rates. Thus, new therapeutic approaches have been investigated and the most promising one is naturally acquired agents with known anti-cancer effects. Genistein is a compound extracted from soy bean. Its anti-cancer effect on breast cancer is well established now and it is investigated whether it has similar effect on OSCC. It inhibited the growth and invasive-ness of OSCC cells in vitro, but these effects did not work in living animals in vivo. Catechin is a compound from green tea and its anti-cancer effect on OSCC is known better than other agents. Catechin showed its anti-cancer effect in vitro via induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of growth, and down-regulation of invasion/metastasis. These effects were confirmed in vivo with mouse model. Cordycepin is one of major pharmacologically important components in Cordyceps Militaris and may exert its anti-cancer effect as an adenosine receptor agonist. In recent study, it inhibited the proliferation of OSCC cells via A3 adenosine receptor. But because there is very scarce evidence on this effect, more researches are needed on this theme.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.473-480
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• 2010

Introduction: Tooth requiring extraction before radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients should be performed as long as possible before the initiation of radiation therapy. Conventionally, a minimum 2-week waiting primary healing period is recommended. Although the above 2-week period is ideal, it is not uncommon for the radiotherapist and cancer patient to feel an urgent need to proceed with radiotherapy despite the need for dental care. Therefore, alternative approaches for early radiotherapy, including conservative endodontic treatment and a 1-week waiting primary healing period after dental extraction at the time of radiotherapy were considered and applied based on a literature review Materials and Methods: The clinical study involved 120 head and neck cancer patients who were treated at Wonju Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, from January 1995 to December 2004. Results: In the clinical study, there were no specific complications, such as, post-extraction wound infections, radiation osteitis and osteoradionecrosis over the recent 10 years despite the early radiotherapy. Conclusion: Based on the clinical study, a minimum 1-week waiting primary healing period for oral care before radiotherapy is suitable for early radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1957-1963
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• 2013

Objective: To assess oral cancer awareness, its associated factors and related sources of information among a selected group of Malaysians. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on all Malaysian ethnic groups aged ${\geq}15$ years old at eight strategically chosen shopping malls within a two week time period. Data were analysed using chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression. Significance level was set at ${\alpha}$ <0.05. Results: Most (84.2%) respondents had heard of oral cancer. Smoking was the most (92.4%) recognized high risk habit. Similar levels of awareness were seen for unhealed ulcers (57.3%) and red/white patches (58.0%) as signs of oral cancer. Age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, occupation and income were significantly associated with oral cancer awareness (p<0.05). Conclusions: There was a general lack of awareness regarding the risk habits, early signs and symptoms, and the benefits of detecting this disease at an early stage. Mass media and health campaigns were the main sources of information about oral cancer. In our Malaysian population, gender and age were significantly associated with the awareness of early signs and symptoms and prevention of oral cancer, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.545-549
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• 2011

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant soft tissue tumor comprising 5-10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. This tumor normally occurs in the paraarticular regions of the extremities but is rare in head and neck sites. SS is sometimes difficult to diagnose because it can mimic benign lesions both clinically and radiologically. This paper presents a rare case of a SS of the buccal space of a 25-year old man. The histology examination and immunohistochemistry of the mass led to a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. The patient was treated primarily with a surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The follow up examination 17-months after surgery showed no signs of tumor relapse or metastasis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2011

Cancer stem cells have stem cell-like features, such as the ability for self-renewal and differentiation but show unlimited growth because they have the lost normal regulation of cell growth. Cancer stem cells and normal stem cells have similar features. They show high motility, diversity of progeny, robust proliferative potential, association with blood vessels, immature expression profiles, nestin expression, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor expression, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression, hedgehog pathway activity, telomerase activity, and Wnt pathway activity. On the other hand, with cancer cells, some of these signaling pathways are abnormally modified. In 1875, Cohnheim suggested the concept of cancer stem cells. Recently, evidence for the existence of cancer stem cells was identified. In 1994, the cancer stem cells' specific cell surface marker for leukemia was identified. Since then, other specific cell surface markers for cancer stem cells in solid tumors (e.g. breast and colon cancer) have been identified. In oral cancer, studies on cancer stem cells have been performed mainly with squamous cell carcinomas. Oral cancer specific cell surface markers, which are genes strongly expressed in oral cancer and cancer stem cell specific side populations, have been identified. Cancer stem cells are resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, to eliminate malignant tumors efficiently and reduce the recurrence rate, therapy targeting cancer stem cells needs to be performed. Currently, studies targeting the cancer stem cells' specific signaling pathways, telomerase and tumor vasculatures are being done.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2011

Background: Teeth requiring extraction before radiotherapy in head & neck cancer patients should be removed as long as possible before the initiation of radiation therapy. Conventionally, a minimum 2-week waiting primary healing period is recommended. Although the above 2-week period is ideal, it was not uncommon for the radiotherapist and cancer patient to feel an urgent need to process with radiotherapy despite the need for dental care. Therefore, alternative approaches for early radiotherapy, including conservative endodontic treatment and a 1-week waiting primary healing period after dental extraction at the time of radiotherapy, were considered and applied based on the experimental study Materials and Methods: Eighteen dogs were processed for histopathologic wound healing. The effect of the primary endodontic treatment and extraction before early radiotherapy was examined. Results: No specific complication, such as, post-extraction wound infection, radiation osteitis and osteoradionecrosis, were encountered despite the early radiotherapy. Conclusion: Based on the experimental study, a minimum 1-week waiting primary healing period for oral care before radiotherapy is suitable for the early radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.413-416
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• 2010

Fleischmann et al. first described the concept of using sub-atmospheric pressure to treat open or infected wounds in 1993. Since then, Argenta and Morykwas developed subatmospheric, or negative pressure dressings in 1997 as a means of managing complicated wounds. Since its introduction in 1997, the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system has been used widely in general plastic surgery, general surgery, and orthopedic surgery to manage complicated wounds of the torso and extremities. However, there is a paucity of literature describing its use in the head and neck region, particularly in oral and maxillofacial surgery. We report a successful case of postoperative orocutaneous fistula closure using a VAC system in a 59-year male with a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.211-219
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to create a scoring system that provides comprehensive assessment of patients with oromaxillofacial cancer or odontogenic infection, and to statistically reevaluate the results in order to provide specific criteria for elective tracheostomy. Materials and Methods: All patients that had oral cancer surgery (group A) or odontogenic infection surgery (group B) during a period of 10 years (2003 to 2013) were subgrouped according to whether or not the patient received a tracheostomy. After a random sampling (group A: total of 56, group B: total of 60), evaulation procedures were observed based on the group classifications. For group A, four factors were evaluated: TNM stage, reconstruction methods, presence of pathologic findings on chest posterior-anterior (PA), and the number of systemic diseases. Scores were given to each item based on the scoring system suggested in this research and the scores were added together. Similarly, the sum score of group B was counted using 5 categories, including infection site, C-reactive protein level on first visit, age, presence of pathologic findings on chest PA, and number of systemic diseases. Results: The scoring system rendered from this research shows that there is a high correlation between the scores and TNM stage in oral cancer patients, or infection sites in odontogenic infection patients. However, no correlation between pathologic findings on chest PA could be found in either group. The results also indicated that for both groups, the hospital day increased with the tracheostomy score. The tracheostomy score cutoff value was 5 in oral cancer patients and 6 in odontogenic infection patients which was used for elective tracheostomy indication. Conclusion: The elective tracheostomy score system suggested by this research is a method that considers both the surgical and general conditions of the patient, and can be very useful for managing patients with severe oral disease.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2012

Objectives: The inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene $p16^{INK4a}$ plays an important role in the development of malignant tumors, including oral squamous cell carcinoma. The p16 gene is involved in the p16/cyclin-dependent kinase/retinoblastoma (Rb) gene pathway of cell cycle control. The p16 protein is considered a negative regulator of this pathway. The p16 gene encodes an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 which regulate the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene and G1 to S phase transition in the cell cycle. However, the p16 gene can lose its functionality through point mutations, loss of heterozygosity or methylation of its promoter region. Materials and Methods: In this study, the authors analyzed the correlation between various clinicopathological findings- patient age, gender and smoking, disease recurrence, tumor size, stage, and differentiation- and p16 protein expression or p16 promoter hypermethylation in 59 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Results: The results revealed p16 protein expression and p16 promoter hypermethylation in 28 cases (47.5%) and 21 cases (35.6%), respectively, of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, neither p16 protein expression nor p16 promoter hypermethylation had any statistical influence on clinicopathological findings or survival rate. Conclusion: This data, and a review of the literature, suggest that p16 promoter hypermethylation cannot yet be used as an independent prognostic factor influencing carcinogenesis, but must be considered as an important factor along with other genetic alterations affecting the pRb pathway.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2020

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be useful for the evaluation of palatal lesions, and strain elastography (performed together with intraoral ultrasonography) is a relatively new sonographic imaging modality. This report describes 2 clinical cases in which strain elastography was used to assess palatal tumors in conjunction with intraoral ultrasonography, CT, and MRI. In the first case, diagnosed as a myoepithelioma, the strain was determined to be 0.000% (strain of normal tissue, 0.556%). In the second case, diagnosed as an adenoid cystic carcinoma, the determined strain was 0.000% (strain of normal tissue, 1.077%). Therefore, we conclude that intraoral strain elastography can be useful for evaluating palatal lesions.