Aproximadamente 3% das neoplasias malignas são originadas da cavidade bucal e representadas na maioria pelo carcinoma espinocelular (CEC). Estudos tem demostrado variações nas características clínico-epidemiológicas do CEC de boca de acordo com área geográfica da população estudada. A compreensão das características de uma população específica é importante por muitas razões, incluindo a compreensão da extensão do problema, fatores relacionados com seu desenvolvimento, seu diagnóstico e prognóstico. No entanto, poucos estudos têm sido relatados sobre essa lesão na população Uruguaia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil demográfico, os aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos, assim como, os fatores prognósticos dos carcinomas espinocelulares de boca (CECB) diagnosticados em serviços públicos no Uruguai. Foram selecionados todos os prontuários médicos de pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico de carcinoma espinocelular de boca primário atendidos no período de Janeiro 2000 a Dezembro de 2010 em Hospitais Públicos de Uruguai. Os prontuários foram avaliados manualmente e foram coletadas informações quanto aos dados demográficos, fatores de risco, características clínicas do tumor, tratamento e evolução. Foi confeccionado um banco de dados com as informações coletadas nos prontuários. A análise descritiva de todas as variáveis foi realizada e a existência de associação entre as variáveis independentes e os desfechos (estadiamento clínico e evolução) foi avaliada através do teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson e o teste de Fisher, o nível de significância estabelecido foi de 5%. Dentre os 200 prontuários de pacientes analisados, 79.4% eram homens com distribuição homem:mulher de 3.8:1. A média de idade foi de 60,75 anos. A análise univariada mostrou que o estadiamento clínico tem associação significativa com o tabagismo (p = 0,04), quantidade de tabaco (p = 0,018), aspecto clínico (p = 0,009), tamanho do tumor (p = 0,001) e metástases regionais (p = 0,001). Os homens portadores de CEC foram associados com o consumo de tabaco e álcool. O prognóstico desfavorável dos CECB (óbito) foi significativamente relacionado com aspecto clínico (p = 0,02), tamanho (p = 0,001), metástases regionais (p = 0,016), estadiamento clínico (p = 0,002) e tratamento (p = 0,001). A maioria dos pacientes com CECB que evoluiram a óbito (pior prognóstico), exibiram úlcera (93,9%), tamanhos avançados - T3/T4 (90,2%), metástases regionais (66%), foram classificadas no estágio III/IV (94,1%) e receberam tratamento não cirúrgico ou paliativos. Conclui-se que no Uruguai o diagnóstico do CECB é tardio e associado a baixas taxas de sobrevida. Medidas educativas e preventivas para a população assim como, investimentos em estratégias para melhorar o diagnóstico precoce devem ser uma meta neste país. / Nearly 3% of malignant neoplasms originate from the oral cavity and are mostly represented by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Studies have demonstrated variations in clinical and epidemiological features of oral SCC according to geographical area of the study population. Understanding the characteristics of a specific population is important for many reasons, including the comprehension of the extent of the problem, factors associated with their development, diagnosis and prognosis. However, few studies have been developed in Uruguayan population about this lesion. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the demographic, clinical and therapeutic features, as well as, the predictive factors of poor prognosis in patients with primary OSCC evaluated during a period of 10-years in public health services in Uruguay. Medical records of patients with histological diagnosis of primary OSCC treated between January 2000 and December 2010 in Uruguayan Public Hospitals were selected. Information regarding demographics, risk factors, clinical features, treatment and outcome was collected. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the existence of association between independent variables and outcomes (clinical stage and evolution) was assessed using the Pearson Chi-Square test and Fisher's test. Out of a total of 200 patients with OSCC, 79.4% were men with 3.8:1 male:female ratio. The mean age was 60.75 years. Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage have significant association with smoking (p=0,04), amount of tobacco (p=0.018), clinical aspect (p=0.009), tumor size (p=0.001) and regional metastasis (p=0.001). OSCC male patients were associated with tobacco and alcohol comsumption. Worse overall survival (poor prognosis) was significant associated with clinical aspect (p=0.02), size (p=0.001), regional metastasis (p=0.016), clinical stage (p=0.002) and treatment (p=0.001). The majority of OSCC patients with worse overall survival presented oral ulcer (93.9%), T3/T4 tumor size (90.2%), regional metastasis (66%), were classified at stage III/IV (94.1%) and received nonsurgical or palliatives treatment. We conclude that in Uruguay the diagnosis of OSCC is late associated to low survival rate. Educational and preventive measures for the population and investment in strategies to improve early diagnosis should be a goal in this country.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-11-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:42:58Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 demathe_a_dr_araca.pdf: 333527 bytes, checksum: 481be7a0ed0bfcb0e04dcdc9c8824129 (MD5) / O papilomavirus humano (HPV) tem sido relacionado com a etiologia dos carcinomas epidermóides de cabeça e pescoço, em análise de tecidos cerca de 60% destes carcinomas podem ser HPV positivos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a presença do HPV em material genético obtidos de tecidos, secreção salivar e sangue de pacientes portadores de carcinoma epidermóide (CEC) de orofaringe e controles e a correlação da presença viral com as váriáveis sexo, idade, tabagismo, etilismo e perfil anatomopatologico do tumor. Foi realizada uma análise do material genético de 46 pacientes com diagnóstico de CEC de orofaringe e 40 pacientes sem carcinoma. A extração do DNA dos espécimes foi realizada utilizando o kit de extração de DNA QuiAMP. O DNA isolado foi submetido a PCR para beta-globina para confirmar a presença e integridade do DNA, em seguida, foram realizadas novas reações para detecção do DNA do HPV. Para análise estatística foram empregados o teste Qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher. A idade média de idade foi de 60 anos para os casos e 58,2 anos para os controles e a mediana foi de 59 e 56 anos, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos com a metodologia descrita permitiram concluir que não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas na análise das variáveis em relação à presença do papilomavírus humano nas amostras de tecidos biológicos dos pacientes estudados / Human papillomavirus (HPV) it has been related with head and neck SCC etiology, about 60% of these carcinomas tissues can be HPV positive. The aim of this study was to analyze the HPV presence in genetic material obtained from tissues, salivary secretion and blood of oropharyngeal SCC patients and controls and correlate the virus presence with variables: sex, age, smoking, alcoholism and pathological profile of the tumours.It was made molecular and statistical analysis of genetic material of 46 oral and oropharyngeal SCC patients and 40 controls patients without carcinoma. The DNA extraction of all specimens was accomplished using the DNA extraction kit QuiAMP. The isolated DNA was submitted PCR for beta-globin to confirm the DNA presence and integrity, after new reactions it was accomplished for HPV DNA detection. Chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. The average age was 60 years for cases and 58.2 years for controls and the median age was 59 and 56 years respectively. The results obtained with the described methodology shows there was no statistically significant differences between HPV presence in samples of biological tissues and the analyzed variables

Orientador: Glauco Issamu Miyahara / Coorientador: José Fernando Garcia / Coorientador: Styna Marita Syrjänen / Banca: Sandra Helena Penha de Oliveira / Banca: Eder Ricardo Biasoli / Banca: Alan Roger dos Santos Silva / Banca: Ricardo Della Coletta / Resumo: O papilomavirus humano (HPV) tem sido relacionado com a etiologia dos carcinomas epidermóides de cabeça e pescoço, em análise de tecidos cerca de 60% destes carcinomas podem ser HPV positivos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a presença do HPV em material genético obtidos de tecidos, secreção salivar e sangue de pacientes portadores de carcinoma epidermóide (CEC) de orofaringe e controles e a correlação da presença viral com as váriáveis sexo, idade, tabagismo, etilismo e perfil anatomopatologico do tumor. Foi realizada uma análise do material genético de 46 pacientes com diagnóstico de CEC de orofaringe e 40 pacientes sem carcinoma. A extração do DNA dos espécimes foi realizada utilizando o kit de extração de DNA QuiAMP. O DNA isolado foi submetido a PCR para beta-globina para confirmar a presença e integridade do DNA, em seguida, foram realizadas novas reações para detecção do DNA do HPV. Para análise estatística foram empregados o teste Qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher. A idade média de idade foi de 60 anos para os casos e 58,2 anos para os controles e a mediana foi de 59 e 56 anos, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos com a metodologia descrita permitiram concluir que não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas na análise das variáveis em relação à presença do papilomavírus humano nas amostras de tecidos biológicos dos pacientes estudados / Abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) it has been related with head and neck SCC etiology, about 60% of these carcinomas tissues can be HPV positive. The aim of this study was to analyze the HPV presence in genetic material obtained from tissues, salivary secretion and blood of oropharyngeal SCC patients and controls and correlate the virus presence with variables: sex, age, smoking, alcoholism and pathological profile of the tumours.It was made molecular and statistical analysis of genetic material of 46 oral and oropharyngeal SCC patients and 40 controls patients without carcinoma. The DNA extraction of all specimens was accomplished using the DNA extraction kit QuiAMP. The isolated DNA was submitted PCR for beta-globin to confirm the DNA presence and integrity, after new reactions it was accomplished for HPV DNA detection. Chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. The average age was 60 years for cases and 58.2 years for controls and the median age was 59 and 56 years respectively. The results obtained with the described methodology shows there was no statistically significant differences between HPV presence in samples of biological tissues and the analyzed variables / Doutor

Aproximadamente 3% das neoplasias malignas são originadas da cavidade bucal e representadas na maioria pelo carcinoma espinocelular (CEC). Estudos tem demostrado variações nas características clínico-epidemiológicas do CEC de boca de acordo com área geográfica da população estudada. A compreensão das características de uma população específica é importante por muitas razões, incluindo a compreensão da extensão do problema, fatores relacionados com seu desenvolvimento, seu diagnóstico e prognóstico. No entanto, poucos estudos têm sido relatados sobre essa lesão na população Uruguaia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil demográfico, os aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos, assim como, os fatores prognósticos dos carcinomas espinocelulares de boca (CECB) diagnosticados em serviços públicos no Uruguai. Foram selecionados todos os prontuários médicos de pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico de carcinoma espinocelular de boca primário atendidos no período de Janeiro 2000 a Dezembro de 2010 em Hospitais Públicos de Uruguai. Os prontuários foram avaliados manualmente e foram coletadas informações quanto aos dados demográficos, fatores de risco, características clínicas do tumor, tratamento e evolução. Foi confeccionado um banco de dados com as informações coletadas nos prontuários. A análise descritiva de todas as variáveis foi realizada e a existência de associação entre as variáveis independentes e os desfechos (estadiamento clínico e evolução) foi avaliada através do teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson e o teste de Fisher, o nível de significância estabelecido foi de 5%. Dentre os 200 prontuários de pacientes analisados, 79.4% eram homens com distribuição homem:mulher de 3.8:1. A média de idade foi de 60,75 anos. A análise univariada mostrou que o estadiamento clínico tem associação significativa com o tabagismo (p = 0,04), quantidade de tabaco (p = 0,018), aspecto clínico (p = 0,009), tamanho do tumor (p = 0,001) e metástases regionais (p = 0,001). Os homens portadores de CEC foram associados com o consumo de tabaco e álcool. O prognóstico desfavorável dos CECB (óbito) foi significativamente relacionado com aspecto clínico (p = 0,02), tamanho (p = 0,001), metástases regionais (p = 0,016), estadiamento clínico (p = 0,002) e tratamento (p = 0,001). A maioria dos pacientes com CECB que evoluiram a óbito (pior prognóstico), exibiram úlcera (93,9%), tamanhos avançados - T3/T4 (90,2%), metástases regionais (66%), foram classificadas no estágio III/IV (94,1%) e receberam tratamento não cirúrgico ou paliativos. Conclui-se que no Uruguai o diagnóstico do CECB é tardio e associado a baixas taxas de sobrevida. Medidas educativas e preventivas para a população assim como, investimentos em estratégias para melhorar o diagnóstico precoce devem ser uma meta neste país. / Nearly 3% of malignant neoplasms originate from the oral cavity and are mostly represented by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Studies have demonstrated variations in clinical and epidemiological features of oral SCC according to geographical area of the study population. Understanding the characteristics of a specific population is important for many reasons, including the comprehension of the extent of the problem, factors associated with their development, diagnosis and prognosis. However, few studies have been developed in Uruguayan population about this lesion. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the demographic, clinical and therapeutic features, as well as, the predictive factors of poor prognosis in patients with primary OSCC evaluated during a period of 10-years in public health services in Uruguay. Medical records of patients with histological diagnosis of primary OSCC treated between January 2000 and December 2010 in Uruguayan Public Hospitals were selected. Information regarding demographics, risk factors, clinical features, treatment and outcome was collected. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the existence of association between independent variables and outcomes (clinical stage and evolution) was assessed using the Pearson Chi-Square test and Fisher's test. Out of a total of 200 patients with OSCC, 79.4% were men with 3.8:1 male:female ratio. The mean age was 60.75 years. Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage have significant association with smoking (p=0,04), amount of tobacco (p=0.018), clinical aspect (p=0.009), tumor size (p=0.001) and regional metastasis (p=0.001). OSCC male patients were associated with tobacco and alcohol comsumption. Worse overall survival (poor prognosis) was significant associated with clinical aspect (p=0.02), size (p=0.001), regional metastasis (p=0.016), clinical stage (p=0.002) and treatment (p=0.001). The majority of OSCC patients with worse overall survival presented oral ulcer (93.9%), T3/T4 tumor size (90.2%), regional metastasis (66%), were classified at stage III/IV (94.1%) and received nonsurgical or palliatives treatment. We conclude that in Uruguay the diagnosis of OSCC is late associated to low survival rate. Educational and preventive measures for the population and investment in strategies to improve early diagnosis should be a goal in this country.

Aproximadamente 3% das neoplasias malignas são originadas da cavidade bucal e representadas na maioria pelo carcinoma espinocelular (CEC). Estudos tem demostrado variações nas características clínico-epidemiológicas do CEC de boca de acordo com área geográfica da população estudada. A compreensão das características de uma população específica é importante por muitas razões, incluindo a compreensão da extensão do problema, fatores relacionados com seu desenvolvimento, seu diagnóstico e prognóstico. No entanto, poucos estudos têm sido relatados sobre essa lesão na população Uruguaia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil demográfico, os aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos, assim como, os fatores prognósticos dos carcinomas espinocelulares de boca (CECB) diagnosticados em serviços públicos no Uruguai. Foram selecionados todos os prontuários médicos de pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico de carcinoma espinocelular de boca primário atendidos no período de Janeiro 2000 a Dezembro de 2010 em Hospitais Públicos de Uruguai. Os prontuários foram avaliados manualmente e foram coletadas informações quanto aos dados demográficos, fatores de risco, características clínicas do tumor, tratamento e evolução. Foi confeccionado um banco de dados com as informações coletadas nos prontuários. A análise descritiva de todas as variáveis foi realizada e a existência de associação entre as variáveis independentes e os desfechos (estadiamento clínico e evolução) foi avaliada através do teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson e o teste de Fisher, o nível de significância estabelecido foi de 5%. Dentre os 200 prontuários de pacientes analisados, 79.4% eram homens com distribuição homem:mulher de 3.8:1. A média de idade foi de 60,75 anos. A análise univariada mostrou que o estadiamento clínico tem associação significativa com o tabagismo (p = 0,04), quantidade de tabaco (p = 0,018), aspecto clínico (p = 0,009), tamanho do tumor (p = 0,001) e metástases regionais (p = 0,001). Os homens portadores de CEC foram associados com o consumo de tabaco e álcool. O prognóstico desfavorável dos CECB (óbito) foi significativamente relacionado com aspecto clínico (p = 0,02), tamanho (p = 0,001), metástases regionais (p = 0,016), estadiamento clínico (p = 0,002) e tratamento (p = 0,001). A maioria dos pacientes com CECB que evoluiram a óbito (pior prognóstico), exibiram úlcera (93,9%), tamanhos avançados - T3/T4 (90,2%), metástases regionais (66%), foram classificadas no estágio III/IV (94,1%) e receberam tratamento não cirúrgico ou paliativos. Conclui-se que no Uruguai o diagnóstico do CECB é tardio e associado a baixas taxas de sobrevida. Medidas educativas e preventivas para a população assim como, investimentos em estratégias para melhorar o diagnóstico precoce devem ser uma meta neste país. / Nearly 3% of malignant neoplasms originate from the oral cavity and are mostly represented by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Studies have demonstrated variations in clinical and epidemiological features of oral SCC according to geographical area of the study population. Understanding the characteristics of a specific population is important for many reasons, including the comprehension of the extent of the problem, factors associated with their development, diagnosis and prognosis. However, few studies have been developed in Uruguayan population about this lesion. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the demographic, clinical and therapeutic features, as well as, the predictive factors of poor prognosis in patients with primary OSCC evaluated during a period of 10-years in public health services in Uruguay. Medical records of patients with histological diagnosis of primary OSCC treated between January 2000 and December 2010 in Uruguayan Public Hospitals were selected. Information regarding demographics, risk factors, clinical features, treatment and outcome was collected. A descriptive analysis was performed, and the existence of association between independent variables and outcomes (clinical stage and evolution) was assessed using the Pearson Chi-Square test and Fisher's test. Out of a total of 200 patients with OSCC, 79.4% were men with 3.8:1 male:female ratio. The mean age was 60.75 years. Univariate analysis showed that clinical stage have significant association with smoking (p=0,04), amount of tobacco (p=0.018), clinical aspect (p=0.009), tumor size (p=0.001) and regional metastasis (p=0.001). OSCC male patients were associated with tobacco and alcohol comsumption. Worse overall survival (poor prognosis) was significant associated with clinical aspect (p=0.02), size (p=0.001), regional metastasis (p=0.016), clinical stage (p=0.002) and treatment (p=0.001). The majority of OSCC patients with worse overall survival presented oral ulcer (93.9%), T3/T4 tumor size (90.2%), regional metastasis (66%), were classified at stage III/IV (94.1%) and received nonsurgical or palliatives treatment. We conclude that in Uruguay the diagnosis of OSCC is late associated to low survival rate. Educational and preventive measures for the population and investment in strategies to improve early diagnosis should be a goal in this country.

Orientador: Antonio Santos Martins / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T06:49:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ScanaviniJunior_RuiCarlos_M.pdf: 989083 bytes, checksum: 9b013db47c9ffb39e508299508218360 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: O carcinoma espinocelular ou de células escamosas constitui a segunda neoplasia de pele mais freqüente e apresenta índice de cura superior a 90%, quando tratado na fase mais inicial. Tumores maiores e uma pequena fração dos tumores iniciais costumam apresentar evolução desfavorável, representada pelas recidivas loco-regional e a distância, apesar do tratamento inicial. Objetivo: Identificar, por análise retrospectiva, os fatores histológicos e clínicos associados à evolução adversa, identificando os tumores de alto risco. Material e método: Foram analisados trinta e cinco prontuários de pacientes submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico do carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) cutâneo de cabeça e pescoço, sendo coletadas informações sobre espessura (milímetros), invasão perineural, grau de diferenciação e invasão angiolinfática. Realizou-se a análise estatística da associação desses fatores com as variáveis da evolução do CEC (recidiva local, metástase linfática, metástase a distância e óbito). Procedeu-se de forma similar na comparação das variáveis da evolução do CEC entre si. Admitiu-se diferença estatística de 5%. Resultados: Ocorreu associação estatística entre a recidiva local e invasão perineural; metástase linfática e invasão angiolinfática, espessura e invasão perineural; metástase a distância e invasão angiolinfática; óbito e invasão perineural, invasão angiolinfática, espessura tumoral. Entre as variáveis do CEC, verificou-se que a metástase linfática e a metástase a distância estiveram associadas ao óbito. Conclusão: Os fatores histológicos e clínicos observados na evolução permitem definir pacientes de alto risco para os quais o seguimento e novos protocolos terapêuticos prospectivos devem ser melhor estabelecidos. Unitermos: Carcinoma de células escamosas, pele, prognóstico / Abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma represents the second most common cancer of the skin. Most of the patients, especially with the small tumors, can be cured at rates that exceed 90%. Larger tumors and a subset of the small ones will present substantial risk of recurrence. Objective: To identify, by retrospective analysis, histological and clinical features associated with recurrence and metastasis. Material and method: There were analyzed thirty five records of patients treated by surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the head and neck. From them we collected information about: tumor depth (millimeters), perineural invasion, grade (Broders) and angiolymphatic invasion. After that we verified the association of these features with the variants of prognosis: local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and death caused by the disease. In a similar fashion we compared these variants of prognosis between them. Statistical significance was admitted at the level of 5%. Results: We found statistical significance between: local recurrence and perineural invasion; lymph node metastasis and perineural invasion, angiolymphatic invasion and depth; distant metastasis and angiolymphatic invasion; death and perineural invasion, depth and angiolymphatic invasion. Between the variants of prognosis we found association of death with distant and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Histological and clinical features of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the head and neck may help to define high risk patients. Prospective protocols should be established for better treatment results in these patients / Mestrado / Cirurgia / Mestre em Cirurgia

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a diverse group of tumours includingtumours of the mouth, of which most are manifested in the tongue. Previous studies have shown that assessment of histological risk factors including worstpattern of invasion (WPOI) and lymphocytic response (LR) is of clinical relevance in treating SCCHN. It hasalsobeen suggested that evaluation of the inflammatory infiltrate could be of prognostic importance.The purpose of this study was to further investigate, analyze and map histological factors associated with TSCC.A total of 58biopsies fromtwo different ethnic groups,Swedish and Italian,were evaluated regarding factors like WPOI andLR. Results were thencorrelated to clinical data.Approximately halfof the patients, 53%, displayed patches ofdense lymphocytic infiltrate at the tumour interface. There was,however,no statistically relevant correlation seen between LR, recurrence of disease, survival rate or ethnicity. Considering WPOI, 83% of patients showed a tumour growth pattern withsmall invasive islands <15 cells (WPOI 4). No correlationbetween WPOI, recurrence of disease, survival rate, ethnicity or lymphocyticresponse was found.Our findings confirm that SSC of the tongue hasa very split patternof invasion. No conclusive result was found concerning inflammatory response and prognostic factors. Data collected showed that ethnic differences could potentiallybe of interest for further study of the prevalence of tongue SCC.

Abstract Traditional clinicopathological factors are not accurate enough to predict the behavior of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The most powerful indicator of prognosis is the stage of the disease. New prognostic markers have, however, been searched for in order to better identify patient groups in need of different treatments or follow-up. Gelatinases (MMP-2, -9) are endopeptidases associated with tumor invasion and angiogenesis, and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1, -2) are also linked to cancer cell invasion and metastasis formation. In some cancer types they are even prognostic and relate with a more aggressive clinical course of the disease. In the present work the expression and the clinical significance of tumor tissue and circulating immunoreactive proteins for MMP-2, -9, TIMP-1 and -2 were assessed in HNSCC. The study group included 74 patients with HNSCC and 44 healthy controls. The expression of immunoreactive proteins was examined in paraffin-embedded tumor sections by immunohistochemical staining using specific antibodies, and the pretreatment serum levels of those proteins were quantitatively measured by ELISA assay. Immunohistochemical overexpression of MMP-9 in tumor was for the first time found to predict the prognosis for shortened survival in HNSCC, the cause-specific survival rates being 45% and 92% and relapse-free survival being 42% and 79% in MMP-9 positive or negative cases, respectively. Additionally, tissue TIMP-1, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 positivity were all also linked with poorer survival of patients with HNSCC. However, these differences remained less distinct than with MMP-9. The expression of gelatinases and their inhibitors in tumor tissue was also an indicator for later lymph node or hematogenic relapses in HNSCC patients. Circulating MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were significantly higher in HNSCC patients than in healthy controls. Further, the cause-specific and relapse-free survival rates were lower among HNSCC patients with high MMP-9 and TIMP-1 serum levels compared to patients with low levels of circulating MMP-9 and TIMP-1. A significant correlation was shown between circulating MMP-9 and MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining in the corresponding tumors. No correlation was found between tissue or circulating levels of gelatinases or their inhibitors and the traditional clinical or histopathological factors, except for the association between tissue and circulating TIMP-1 and the size of the primary tumor. Taken together, these results suggest that tissue expression of gelatinases and their inhibitors as well as pretreatment circulating MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels could be prognostic in estimation of the clinical course of HNSCC. The results indicate further studies are needed with larger patient materials.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) inhibitors, such as erlotinib/tarceva, have been introduced in the past decade as a promising therapeutic option in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), however, they lack significant efficacy as single agents. As a result, RTK inhibitors require a combination based therapeutic approach with other treatment modalities. To uncover such a combination of agents, we performed a high throughput Prestwick library screen that included 1200 compounds approved by the FDA on HNSCC cell lines and found that monensin, a coccidial antibiotic, synergistically enhanced the cytotoxicity of erlotinib. RT-PCR revealed that monensin induced the expression of Activation of Transcription Factor (ATF) 3 and its downstream target C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) which are key regulators of apoptosis. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis suggests that monensin augments erlotinib cytotoxicity by disturbing lipid and sterol biosynthesis. Therefore, identifying the mechanism of action exerted by monensin may open alternative avenues of cancer treatment.

No description available.