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Cancers
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Advances in Head and Neck Oncology
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Advances in Head and Neck Oncology

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 22874

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vinita Takiar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
Interests: head and neck cancer; oropharynx cancer; radioresistance; radiotherapy; oral cavity cancer; metabolism
Dr. Sana D. Karam

E-Mail
Guest Editor
University of Colorado at Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, United States
Interests: radioimmunotherapy; radioresistance; receptor tyrosine kinases; Tregs; dendritic cells; natural killer cells; angiogenesis; T cell trafficking

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of head and neck oncology is rapidly evolving. While treatment has typically involved a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, new in-roads are being made within each of these sub-specialities. Moreover, the possibility of immunotherapy is leading to novel combinations of treatments and the search for biomarkers to identify which treatment modality may be best suited for a given patient.
In the realm of surgery, novel techniques are being employed to achieve clear margins and minimize surgical morbidity. Multiple studies are using radiation therapy to address oligometastatic disease, while other groups are attempting de-escalation strategies in patients with favorable prognoses. Proton therapy is emerging as a new potential radiation treatment modality. While head and neck medical oncology has long-favored cisplatin, recent trials are introducing targeted agents, along with immunotherapy in the definitive and metastatic settings.

This Special Issue will highlight the current state of the art in head and neck oncologic treatment, the biologic advances supporting the newest combination therapies, and the potential for immunologic agents to transform the current standard of care.

Dr. Vinita Takiar
Dr. Sana D. Karam
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • head and neck cancer
  • immunotherapy
  • chemotherapy
  • de-escalation
  • metabolism
  • resistance
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 9305 KiB  
Article
The Landscape of Transmembrane Protein Family Members in Head and Neck Cancers: Their Biological Role and Diagnostic Utility
by Oliwia Koteluk, Antonina Bielicka, Żaneta Lemańska, Kacper Jóźwiak, Weronika Klawiter, Andrzej Mackiewicz, Urszula Kazimierczak and Tomasz Kolenda
Cancers 2021, 13(19), 4737; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13194737 - 22 Sep 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3011
Abstract
Background: Transmembrane proteins (TMEM) constitute a large family of proteins spanning the entirety of the lipid bilayer. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about their function or mechanism of action. In this study, we analyzed the expression of selected TMEM genes [...] Read more.
Background: Transmembrane proteins (TMEM) constitute a large family of proteins spanning the entirety of the lipid bilayer. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about their function or mechanism of action. In this study, we analyzed the expression of selected TMEM genes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to learn their role in tumor formation and metastasis. Materials and Methods: Using TCGA data, we analyzed the expression levels of different TMEMs in both normal and tumor samples and compared those two groups depending on clinical-pathological parameters. We selected four TMEMs whose expression was highly correlated with patient survival status and subjected them to further analysis. The pathway analysis using REACTOME and the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to evaluate the association of those TMEMs with genes involved in hallmarks of cancer as well as in oncogenic and immune-related pathways. In addition, the fractions of different immune cell subpopulations depending on TMEM expression were estimated in analyzed patients. The results for selected TMEMs were validated using GEO data. All analyses were performed using the R package, Statistica, and Graphpad Prism. Results: We demonstrated that 73% of the analyzed TMEMs were dysregulated in HNSCC and depended on tumor localization, smoking, alcohol consumption, or HPV infection. The expression levels of ANO1, TMEM156, TMEM173, and TMEM213 correlated with patient survival. The four TMEMs were also upregulated in HPV-positive patients. The elevated expression of those TMEMs correlated with the enrichment of genes involved in cancer-related processes, including immune response. Specifically, overexpression of TMEM156 and TMEM173 was associated with immune cell mobilization and better survival rates, while the elevated ANO1 expression was linked with metastasis formation and worse survival. Conclusions: In this work, we performed a panel of in silico analyses to discover the role of TMEMs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We found that ANO1, TMEM156, TMEM173, and TMEM213 correlated with clinical status and immune responses in HNSCC patients, pointing them as biomarkers for a better prognosis and treatment. This is the first study describing such the role of TMEMs in HNSCC. Future clinical trials should confirm the potential of those genes as targets for personalized therapy of HNSCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Head and Neck Oncology)
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Review

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15 pages, 22684 KiB  
Review
Therapeutic Advancements in Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticle-Based Radiosensitization for Head and Neck Cancer Therapy
by Poornima Dubey, Mathieu Sertorio and Vinita Takiar
Cancers 2022, 14(3), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14030514 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4619
Abstract
Although radiation therapy (RT) is one of the mainstays of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment, innovative approaches are needed to further improve treatment outcomes. A significant challenge has been to design delivery strategies that focus high doses of radiation on the tumor [...] Read more.
Although radiation therapy (RT) is one of the mainstays of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment, innovative approaches are needed to further improve treatment outcomes. A significant challenge has been to design delivery strategies that focus high doses of radiation on the tumor tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding structures. In the last decade, there has been increasing interest in harnessing high atomic number materials (Z-elements) as nanoparticle radiosensitizers that can also be specifically directed to the tumor bed. Metallic nanoparticles typically display chemical inertness in cellular and subcellular systems but serve as significant radioenhancers for synergistic tumor cell killing in the presence of ionizing radiation. In this review, we discuss the current research and therapeutic efficacy of metal nanoparticle (MNP)-based radiosensitizers, specifically in the treatment of HNC with an emphasis on gold- (AuNPs), gadolinium- (AGdIX), and silver- (Ag) based nanoparticles together with the metallic oxide-based hafnium (Hf), zinc (ZnO) and iron (SPION) nanoparticles. Both in vitro and in vivo systems for different ionizing radiations including photons and protons were reviewed. Finally, the current status of preclinical and clinical studies using MNP-enhanced radiation therapy is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Head and Neck Oncology)
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10 pages, 543 KiB  
Review
Multimodality Management of EBV-Associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
by Justin Yu, Tiffany T. Pham, Narine Wandrey, Mackenzie Daly and Sana D. Karam
Cancers 2021, 13(23), 6078; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13236078 - 2 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4632
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare cancer of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with a specific geographic predisposition. NPC is often associated with Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) infection and as a result contains many characteristic biomarkers. Treatment of locally-contained NPC is generally achieved through use of [...] Read more.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare cancer of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with a specific geographic predisposition. NPC is often associated with Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) infection and as a result contains many characteristic biomarkers. Treatment of locally-contained NPC is generally achieved through use of radiotherapy (RT), as part of a multimodality treatment regimen. Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent RT and platinum-based chemotherapy regimen has emerged as the definitive treatment of choice for locoregionally-advanced NPC. Recently, immunotherapy is finding a role in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. Immune checkpoint blockade therapies targeted against the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor have demonstrated efficacy in early phase clinical trials, with ongoing phase III trials in effect. Biomarkers for treatment efficacy remain an ongoing area of investigation, with important prognostic implications on the horizon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Head and Neck Oncology)
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15 pages, 1043 KiB  
Review
A Rational Approach to Unilateral Neck RT for Head and Neck Cancers in the Era of Immunotherapy
by Re-I Chin, Joshua P. Schiff, Randall J. Brenneman, Hiram A. Gay, Wade L. Thorstad and Alexander J. Lin
Cancers 2021, 13(21), 5269; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13215269 - 20 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2812
Abstract
Radiotherapy plays an important role in the definitive and adjuvant treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, standard courses of radiation therapy may contribute to the depletion of circulating lymphocytes and potentially attenuate optimal tumor antigen presentation that may be [...] Read more.
Radiotherapy plays an important role in the definitive and adjuvant treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, standard courses of radiation therapy may contribute to the depletion of circulating lymphocytes and potentially attenuate optimal tumor antigen presentation that may be detrimental to the efficacy of novel immunotherapeutic agents. This review explores the advantages of restricting radiation to the primary tumor/tumor bed and ipsilateral elective neck as it pertains to the evolving field of immunotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Head and Neck Oncology)
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14 pages, 1823 KiB  
Review
Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Rhabdomyosarcoma
by Andrew J. Frankart, John C. Breneman and Luke E. Pater
Cancers 2021, 13(14), 3567; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13143567 - 16 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3297
Abstract
The use of radiation therapy is an important part of multimodality treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma. The specific doses, treatment volumes, and techniques used in radiation therapy can vary dramatically based upon a number of factors including location, tumor size, and molecular characteristics, resulting in [...] Read more.
The use of radiation therapy is an important part of multimodality treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma. The specific doses, treatment volumes, and techniques used in radiation therapy can vary dramatically based upon a number of factors including location, tumor size, and molecular characteristics, resulting in complex decisions in treatment planning. This article reviews the principles of evaluation and management for head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma including a summary of the historical studies upon which current management is based. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Head and Neck Oncology)
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21 pages, 363 KiB  
Review
Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Current State of Treatment and Future Directions
by Mehran Behruj Yusuf, Grant McKenzie, Abbas Rattani, Paul Tennant, Jeffrey Bumpous, Donald Miller and Neal Dunlap
Cancers 2021, 13(14), 3506; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13143506 - 13 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3398
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy with increasing incidence. The skin of the head and neck is a common subsite for MCC with distinctions in management from other anatomic areas. Given the rapid pace of developments regarding MCC pathogenesis [...] Read more.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy with increasing incidence. The skin of the head and neck is a common subsite for MCC with distinctions in management from other anatomic areas. Given the rapid pace of developments regarding MCC pathogenesis (Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCPyV)-positive or virus-negative, cell of origin), diagnosis, staging and treatment, and up to date recommendations are critical for optimizing outcomes. This review aims to summarize currently available literature for MCC of the head and neck. The authors reviewed current literature, including international guidelines regarding MCC pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, staging, and treatment. Subsequently recommendations were derived including the importance of baseline imaging, MCPyV serology testing, primary site surgery, nodal evaluation, radiotherapy, and the increasing role of immune modulating agents in MCC. MCPyV serology testing is increasingly important with potential distinctions in treatment response and surveillance between virus-positive and virus-negative MCC. Surgical management continues to balance optimizing local control with minimal morbidity. Similarly, radiotherapy continues to have importance in the adjuvant, definitive, and palliative setting for MCC of the head and neck. Immunotherapy has changed the paradigm for advanced MCC, with increasing work focusing on optimizing outcomes for non-responders and high-risk patients, including those with immunosuppression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Head and Neck Oncology)
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