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Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Apoptosis can fuel oncogenesis by the education of surrounding stromal cells. However, the function of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which interacted with apoptotic cancer cells, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression is still unknown.This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of apoptosis and the biological effects of CAFs, interacted with apoptotic cancer cells, on OSCC.A total of 166 samples from OSCC patients were stained via TUNEL reaction to evaluate the correlation between apoptosis and clinical characteristics. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed through flow cytometry and CCK‐8 assays, respectively. Levels of mRNA and protein were examined through qRT‐PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence.Higher percentage of apoptotic cancer cells in OSCC positively correlated with more Ki67+ cells and predicted poor clinical outcomes. Conditioned medium from CAFs exposed to apoptotic cancer cells significantly facilitated cell proliferation. Co‐culture CAFs with apoptotic cancer cells dampened the phosphorylation of STING/IRF3 signaling, as well as the production of type I interferon, which was required for the inhibition of OSCC cell proliferation.These results demonstrate the interplay between apoptotic cancer cells and CAFs promotes OSCC proliferation via STING signaling, identifying a potential therapy targeted CAFs surrounded with apoptotic cancer cells for OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Disease metabolomes have been studied for identifying diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of pathology. Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is one of the most prevalent subtypes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, yet the profile and diagnostic value of its tissue metabolite are unclear. Subjects and Methods: Tumor tissue samples and matched normal mucosal tissue samples were collected from 40 OTSCC patients. Untargeted metabolic analysis by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, in positive and negative ion modes, was used to identify dysregulated metabolites in OTSCC. Further, utilizing LASSO regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses, biomarker metabolites were selected and validated, and a diagnostic model was established. Results: One hundred and ninety metabolites were detected. The OTSCC had a total of 89 dysregulated metabolites, of which 73 were elevated. A diagnostic panel of nine metabolites was subsequently created that could accurately identify OTSCC with 100% sensitivity of 100%, 100% specificity and an AUC of 1.00. Conclusions: This study identified distinct metabolic characteristics of OTSCC and established a diagnostic model. Our research also contributes to the investigation of the pathogenesis of OTSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate Sonic hedgehog (Shh) effects on proliferation and apoptosis of tongue epithelial cells in embryonic and ageing mice. Materials and Methods: Embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5), E14.5, E16.5 and postnatal day 0.5 (PN0.5) K14‐Cre;Shhfl/fl mice, and E14.5, E16.5, PN0.5, PN90.5 and postnatal 1.5 years (PN1.5Y) wild‐type (Wt) mice were employed. Scanning electron microscopy, haematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemistry were performed. Gel beads containing exogenous Shh protein were embedded in the tongue of PN90.5 and PN1.5Y Wt mice. Three days later, 5‐bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemical and TUNEL staining were performed. Results: The number of fungiform papillae was decreased with age. The numbers of BrdU‐ and PCNA‐positive cells were the highest at PN0.5 and the lowest at PN1.5Y. Compared with Wt mice, K14‐Cre;Shhfl/fl mice had decreased PCNA‐positive cells in the epithelium, a smaller tongue volume, and fewer papillae at PN0.5. At E14.5, the number of BrdU‐positive cells was decreased in K14‐Cre;Shh fl/fl mice. At PN1.5Y, the number of apoptotic cells in tongue tissue exposed to Shh protein was less than that in the BSA group and the numbers of BrdU‐ and PCNA‐positive proliferating cells were increased. Conclusion: Shh maintains cell proliferation and reduces apoptosis during tongue development and ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Materials and Methods Results Conclusions The objective of the study was to assess the prognostic value of muscle invasion (MI), a key histopathological feature of tumor aggressiveness, and construct a superior prognostic prediction model combining the current TNM staging system.MI was analyzed in the whole‐slide images from a total of 301 patients with primary buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (BMSCC). Survival times of patients with/without MI were evaluated by Kaplan–Meier analysis. MI was further combined with the TNM staging system to explore its predictive value for prognosis. Moreover, 204 cases of head and neck carcinoma from the TCGA database were included.MI positive rate reached to 76% (229/301) in patients with BMSCC. MI was associated with poor overall survival (p = 0.012) and disease‐free survival (p = 0.022). The novel system (TNM staging combined with MI) revealed strong predictive performance, with the largest area under the curve (OS: p < 0.001, DFS: p < 0.004). MI and the established classification system were also had good predictive ability in the TCGA cohort.MI is an independent predictor of poor prognosis of BMSCC. The inclusion of MI in prediction system can augment the risk stratification of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and may assist in the clinical decision‐making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]