Head and Neck Cancer Trends in Semarang: An analysis of ASR and ASCR

Background: The sustainable incidence data of Head and Neck Cancer is poorly described in Indonesia. There was no large-scale epidemiological study of head and neck cancer in Indonesia, especially in Semarang and surrounding areas. Whereas, by knowing the distribution of sex and age in the incidence data could indicate changes in patterns of cancer that occur every year. Aim: This research aim to determine the distribution of head and neck cancer based on anatomic site, age and sex by counting the Age Standardization Rates (ASR) and Age Standardization Cancer Ratio (ASCAR) score Methods : This research was a retrospective observational descriptive study using the medical records of Head and Neck Cancer Patients from Anatomical Pathology Laboratory of Kariadi Central Hospital / Medical Faculty Diponegoro University and Waspada Laboratory in 2010- 2014. Collected data were tabulated manually using Microsoft Excel and analyzed and presented descriptively in table or graphic form Result: The incidences of head and neck cancer were varies every year. The nasopharyngeal cancer seems to be the most common head and neck cancer diagnosed during 2010- 2014. ASCR and ASR in male and female were different in certain head and neck cancer cases. Generally, ASR in male was higher than in females. Conclusion: The trends of head and neck cancer mostly in men. Based on age it distributed mostly in age group 40- 44.Nasopharyngeal cancer is the most cases diagnosed in this period in both male and female and followed with the neoplasm of nasal cavity and middle ear. Age Standardization used in this research allows this research’s result to be compared with the result in another population which used the same method. Keywords Head and Neck Cancer, ASR, ASC

De novo head and neck cancer after liver transplant with antibody-based immunosuppression induction

Background Powerful antibody-based immunosuppression induction is now used routinely during organ transplantation, and may place patients at even higher risk of post-transplant cancer. Materials and Methods Incidence of de-novo head and neck cancer was extracted from the records of 1685 consecutive adult, deceased donor liver transplant recipients with a minimum 1-year follow-up from 2001 to 2015. There were 121 patients positively identified as having developed de-novo head and neck cancer post-liver transplant. Records of these patients were analyzed to determine demographics, history of cancer pre-liver transplant, de-novo cancer type and location, treatment modalities, and alcohol and tobacco exposure. Results Of the 121 patients who developed cancer of the head and neck (7%), there were 103 cutaneous (6%) and 25 non-cutaneous (1%). For non-cutaneous cancers, factors associated with increased risk of cancer included alcohol abuse (p<0.001), any smoking history (p=0.05), and increasing exposure to tobacco (p<0.01). Ten-year Cox regression patient survival demonstrates a survival disadvantage for patients who develop non-cutaneous cancer (p=0.06), but a survival advantage for patients who develop cutaneous cancer (p<0.01). Conclusions The incidence and pattern of head and neck cancer in this population of liver transplant patients was similar to those published previously, suggesting that induction immunosuppression does not increase risk of these types of cancers. Long term survival was worse for patients with non-cutaneous cancers, but better for those with cutaneous cancers, though the reason is unclear

Second primary cancer risk - the impact of applying different definitions of multiple primaries: results from a retrospective population-based cancer registry study

Background: There is evidence that cancer survivors are at increased risk of second primary cancers. Changes in the prevalence of risk factors and diagnostic techniques may have affected more recent risks.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods: We examined the incidence of second primary cancer among adults in the West of Scotland, UK, diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2004 (n = 57,393). We used National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results and International Agency for Research on Cancer definitions of multiple primary cancers and estimated indirectly standardised incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Results: There was a high incidence of cancer during the first 60 days following diagnosis (SIR = 2.36, 95% CI = 2.12 to 2.63). When this period was excluded the risk was not raised, but it was high for some patient groups; in particular women aged &#60;50 years with breast cancer (SIR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.58 to 2.78), patients with bladder (SIR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.19 to 1.67) and head &#38; neck (SIR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.67 to 2.21) cancer. Head &#38; neck cancer patients had increased risks of lung cancer (SIR = 3.75, 95% CI = 3.01 to 4.62), oesophageal (SIR = 4.62, 95% CI = 2.73 to 7.29) and other head &#38; neck tumours (SIR = 6.10, 95% CI = 4.17 to 8.61). Patients with bladder cancer had raised risks of lung (SIR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.62 to 2.88) and prostate (SIR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.72 to 3.30) cancer.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusions: Relative risks of second primary cancers may be smaller than previously reported. Premenopausal women with breast cancer and patients with malignant melanomas, bladder and head &#38; neck cancers may benefit from increased surveillance and advice to avoid known risk factors

Violacein, an indole-derived purple-colored natural pigment produced by Janthinobacterium lividum, inhibits the growth of head and neck carcinoma cell lines both in vitro and in vivo

Violacein (VIO; 3-[1,2-dihydro-5-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxo-3H-pyrrol-3-ylidene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one), an indole-derived purple-colored pigment, produced by a limited number of Gram-negative bacteria species, including Chromobacterium violaceum and Janthinobacterium lividum, has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer activity, as it interferes with survival transduction signaling pathways in different cancer models. Head and neck carcinoma (HNC) represents the sixth most common and one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. We determined whether VIO was able to inhibit head and neck cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. We provide evidence that VIO treatment of human and mouse head and neck cancer cell lines inhibits cell growth and induces autophagy and apoptosis. In fact, VIO treatment increased PARP-1 cleavage, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, the inhibition of ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation, and the expression of light chain 3-II (LC3-II). Moreover, VIO was able to induce p53 degradation, cytoplasmic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) accumulation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. VIO induced a significant increase in ROS production. VIO administration was safe in BALB/c mice and reduced the growth of transplanted salivary gland cancer cells (SALTO) in vivo and prolonged median survival. Taken together, our results indicate that the treatment of head and neck cancer cells with VIO can be useful in inhibiting in vivo and in vitro cancer cell growth. VIO may represent a suitable tool for the local treatment of HNC in combination with standard therapies

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON HEAD AND NECK MALIGNANCIES - A STUDY OF 150 CASES

OBJECTIVE: In the present study we investigate the head and Neck Malignancy cases presenting to the ENT department of our Hospital, and analyze the same to give inputs as to the incidence of head and neck malignancies, the symptoms and stage of presentation, lifestyle and habits as contributory risk factors, identify ENT primary in neck secondaries, histopathological types and selection of best treatment.METHODS: Prospective analysis of 150 patients with newly diagnosed malignancies of nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx and ear.RESULTS: Most malignancies are common in patients greater than 40 years of age. 88% of cancer occur in males. Oropharynx cancer is the most common cancer in our study, with the commonest subsite as base of tongue. Supraglottic and pyriform fossa tumours are the commonest tumour in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers  respectively. The most common presentation is dysphagia. Synergistic effect of smoking and alcohol is seen in 50% of patients. Most of the cases were seen in stage III and IV except glottis cancer which is predominantly seen in stage I, almost all cases were squamous cell carcinoma.CONCLUSION:The results of our study were in conformity with other similar studies. In larynx, Supraglottic was more common as opposed to glottis in certain western studies. Analysis of various factors helps in early diagnosis and management.KEYWORDS:Cancer, Head and Neck Malignancy, Larynx, pharynx, Nasopharynx, Neck secondaries.

The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on head and neck cancer patients' care

The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on head and neck cancer patients' care

Life as an early career researcher: Ruth Bower

Ruth Bower talks to Francesca Lake, Managing Editor: Ruth is currently researching head and neck cancer chemoradiotherapy regimens utilizing microfluidic technology to maintain and interrogate biopsies. Tissue response is investigated using a variety of whole tissue and cellular analytical techniques with a view toward personalized medicine. She is currently pursuing her PhD within the head and neck cancer research group at Hull University (UK). Ruth obtained a first class (Hons) degree in Biological Sciences from Lancaster University (UK) during which time she spent a year at the University of Wollongong (Australia)

Head and neck cancer: metronomic chemotherapy

In the era of personalized medicine, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a critical oncologic topic. Conventional chemotherapy regimens consist of drugs administration in cycles near or at the maximum tolerated dose (MDT), followed by a long drug-free period to permit the patient to recover from acute toxicities. Despite this strategy is successful in controlling the cancer process at the beginning, a significant number of HNSCC patients tend to recurred or progress, especially those patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. The repertoire of drugs directed against tumor cells has greatly increased and metronomic chemotherapy (MC) could be an effective treatment option.It is the purpose of this article to review the concept of MC and describe its potential use in HNSCC. We provide an update of ongoing progress and current challenges related to this issue