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Simple Summary: The study examined the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and various types of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. It aimed to assess how HPV influenced the likelihood of developing these cancers, considering factors such as age, gender, urbanization, and existing health conditions. Through statistical models, the research quantified the risk of skin cancer in individuals with HPV compared to those without, underscoring how behaviors related to sun exposure and protection practices could alter these risks. The findings were crucial for guiding prevention and treatment strategies and were of significant interest to medical professionals and public health policymakers. Overall, the study enhanced our understanding of the risks associated with HPV, potentially leading to more effective health interventions. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in various cancers, including those affecting the skin. The study assessed the long-term risk of skin cancer associated with HPV infection in Taiwan region, using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2007 and 2015. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in skin cancer risk among those with HPV, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the subtype with the highest observed adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 5.97, 95% CI: 4.96–7.19). The overall aHR for HPV-related skin cancer was 5.22 (95% CI: 4.70–5.80), indicating a notably higher risk in the HPV-positive group. The risk of skin cancer was further stratified by type, with basal cell carcinoma (aHR = 4.88, 95% CI: 4.14–5.74), and melanoma (aHR = 4.36, 95% CI: 2.76–6.89) also showing significant associations with HPV. The study also highlighted regional variations, with increased risks in southern Taiwan and the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area. Key findings emphasize the importance of sun protection, particularly in regions of high UV exposure and among individuals in high-risk occupations. This research contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between HPV and skin cancer risk, reinforcing the importance of preventive strategies in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Trismus is a common complication in oral cancer patients that may influence surgical outcomes. This retrospective matched cohort analysis examined the influence of preoperative trismus on survival outcomes in 40 male Taiwanese oral cancer patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Through 1:1 propensity score matching, 20 trismus patients were compared to 20 non-trismus controls. TORS demonstrated comparable short-term surgical outcomes in trismus patients compared to non-trismus patients. There were no significant differences between groups in operation time, blood loss, margin status, flap reconstruction rates, duration of nasogastric tube feeding, or length of hospital stay. Analysis of long-term oncological outcomes demonstrated similar 5-year disease-free survival between groups, indicating comparable tumor control. However, trismus patients experienced significantly poorer 5-year overall survival. After adjusting for confounders, trismus independently conferred a 13-fold higher long-term mortality risk. Ultimately, this study highlights preoperative trismus as a harbinger of non-inferior short-term surgical outcomes, but diminished long-term survival in oral cancer patients treated robotically, even among those with equivalent tumor persistence following surgery. Further research should explore mechanisms linking trismus to mortality and approaches to improve outcomes in this population. Trismus, defined as restricted mouth opening, is a common complication among Taiwanese oral cancer patients, especially those who chew betel quid. However, the impact of trismus on survival outcomes in oral cancer patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between trismus and surgical outcomes in Taiwanese male oral cancer patients treated with TORS. We conducted a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study of 40 Taiwanese male oral cancer patients who underwent TORS between 2016 and 2022. Overall, 20 patients with trismus were matched to 20 patients without trismus. TORS achieved similar operative and short-term clinical outcomes in trismus patients to non-trismus patients. There were no significant differences between groups in operation time, blood loss, margin status, flap reconstruction rates, duration of nasogastric tube feeding, or length of hospital stay. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the two groups. The overall survival (OS) rate at three years was significantly lower in patients with trismus than those without trismus (27.1% vs. 95.0%, log-rank p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS) rates between the trismus and non-trismus groups (36.6% vs. 62.7%, log-rank p = 0.87). After adjusting for confounders, trismus was independently associated with a 13-fold increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 12.87, 95% CI 1.55–106.50, p < 0.05). In conclusion, trismus appears to be an independent prognostic factor for reduced long-term OS in Taiwanese male oral cancer patients undergoing TORS, though short-term surgical outcomes were non-inferior in the trismus patients. Further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms linking trismus and survival in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Unlike other head and neck cancers, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with long-latent recurrence (>five years) is not rare. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of long-latent recurrent NPC. We found that 8.1% recurrence occurred after five years. About two thirds of these patients' primary cancer belonged to the early stages, and almost half of the recurrence was a local recurrence. The five-year overall survival and disease-specific survival rate of long-latent recurrence was 19.7% and 24.5%, respectively. Most long-latent local recurrence was found in unresectable rT3 or rT4 cases, while one-third could not be detected by endoscopy due to recurrence in the skull base. A higher percentage of patients who died after long-latent recurrence were symptomatic with a follow-up interval more than six months, reflecting that delayed detection of recurrence may have a great impact on survival outcome. A long-term follow-up is necessary for early detection of NPC recurrence even after five years of disease-free interval. Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of long-latent recurrence (>five years) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: This retrospective study enrolled newly diagnosed NPC patients from the Chang Gung Research Database between January 2007 and December 2019. We analyzed the patients' characteristics and survival outcomes after recurrence. Results: A total of 2599 NPC patients were enrolled. The overall recurrence rate was 20.5%, while 8.1% of patients had long-latent recurrence (>five years). These patients had a higher percentage of initial AJCC (The American Joint Committee on Cancer) stage I/II (60.5%, p = 0.001) and local recurrence (46.5%, p < 0.001). Unresectable rT3 and rT4 were found in 60% of patients when recurrence and 30% of local recurrence occurred in the skull base, which could not be detected by the regular endoscopy. The five-year overall survival rate of long-latent recurrence was 19.7%. Alive patients tended to be asymptomatic but have regular follow-ups with the interval less than six months. Multivariate analysis showed age and initial advanced AJCC stages were independent risk factors of death after recurrence. In contrast, patients with recurrence between two and five years, salvage surgeries, and regional recurrence had favorable survival outcomes. Conclusion: Long-latent NPC recurrence is not rare, and the survival outcome is poor. Regular follow-up for early detection of NPC recurrence is necessary even after five years of disease-free period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aspirin use has been associated with improved survival rates in various cancers. However, it remains unclear if aspirin confers a survival benefit on patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study was to assess the associations between aspirin use and survival in different stages of NPC. Methods: This is a 10-year retrospective cohort study of NPC patients. A total of 565 NPC patients were recruited after we performed a 1:4 propensity score match between aspirin users and non–users. Cox regression models with adjusted covariates were employed to evaluate factors that influence the survival rate of NPC patients. Results: The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the overall survival (p < 0.0001) and disease-specific survival (p < 0.0001) rates of 180-day aspirin users increased. Increased survival rates were also observed in 180-day aspirin users with Stages III and IV, T, N1 and 2, and N3 categories. Cox regression models indicated that factors, including aspirin use (univariate: HR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.14–0.55, p < 0.001; multivariate: HR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12–0.46, p < 0.001), were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions: Aspirin use for more than 180 days is associated with an increased survival rate and is a positive independent prognostic factor in NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of clopidogrel, whose mechanism of action differs from that of aspirin, on CRC risk remains unknown. We investigated the effects of clopidogrel and aspirin, either as monotherapy or combined, on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We conducted a cohort study using Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Four groups comprising 218,903 patients using aspirin monotherapy, 20,158 patients using clopidogrel monotherapy, 42,779 patients using dual antiplatelet therapy, and 281,840 nonuser matched controls were created using propensity score matching. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the CRC risk during follow-up. Results: During the 13-year follow-up period, we found 9431 cases of CRC over 3,409,522 person-years. The overall incidence rates of CRC were 2.04, 3.45, 1.55, and 3.52 per 1000 person-years in the aspirin, clopidogrel, dual antiplatelet, and nonuser cohorts, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56–0.61), 0.77 (95% CI, 0.68–0.87), and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.33–0.40) for the aspirin, clopidogrel, and dual antiplatelet cohorts, respectively. Dose- and duration-dependent chemopreventive effects were observed in the three cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]