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Of all the different types of metastatic malignant tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region, metastasis to the tongue from the esophagus is rare. Here, we report a case of esophageal cancer that metastasized to the tongue. A 59-year-old man who had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and was undergoing postoperative chemotherapy was referred to our department with a mass and pain on contact in the left side of the tongue one month previously. An elastic hard mass with a normal surface mucosa was found on the left side of the tongue. Histopathological analysis of a biopsy specimen taken from the lesion confirmed that it was a squamous cell carcinoma; no continuity was observed between the tumor and the mucosal epithelium, and the tumor was histopathologically similar to esophageal cancer. Resection of the tongue was performed because the eating disorder had a profound effect on the patient’s daily life. He was ultimately diagnosed as having a tongue metastasis from an esophageal primary cancer. Subsequently, mediastinal lymph node swelling was observed, and chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy were performed at the referring hospital, but he died one year after tongue resection. There was no recurrence of the tongue tumor, and oral ingestion and outpatient visits were possible up to two weeks prior to the patient’s death.

Background/aim The prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma is poor; therefore, new treatment strategies are urgently needed. Phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) is one of the 11 families (PDE1-PDE11) of the phosphodiesterase superfamily that regulates the intracellular concentrations and effects of cAMP and cGMP. This in vitro study was performed to investigate the role of PDE2 in human oral osteosarcoma HOSM-1 cells. Materials and methods PDE2 expression was measured by a cAMP-PDE assay and real-time-PCR. The effects of the PDE2-specific inhibitors, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA), 8-bromo-cAMP, and 8-bromo-cGMP on cell proliferation and migration were assessed. Results PDE2 activity and PDE2A mRNA expression were detected in HOSM-1 cells. Cell proliferation was inhibited by EHNA and 8-bromo-cAMP but not by 8-bromo-cGMP. Cell migration was stimulated by EHNA and 8-bromo-cGMP, but it was inhibited by 8-bromo-cAMP. Conclusion Cell proliferation is regulated by PDE2-cAMP signaling and cell migration is regulated by PDE2-cGMP signaling in HOSM-1 cells.

Background/aim Due to its abilities of substance adsorption and intracellular transportation, hydroxyapatite is a potential carrier in drug delivery systems (DDS). This in vitro study investigated whether newly-developed, highly-dispersive calcined hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with an average grain diameter of 20 nm (nano-SHAP) were suitable as a DDS for the drugs zoledronic acid (ZA), cisplatin, and carboplatin. Material and methods The effects of drug-bearing nano-SHAP on cell proliferation were assessed using three human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC-4, KOSC, and SAS) and one human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Results Nano-SHAP alone did not affect proliferation of any cell line until a concentration of 1 μg/ml was reached. Although the effective concentration of ZA in ZA-bearing nano-SHAP differed, it inhibited cell proliferation better than ZA alone. Cisplatin and carboplatin-bearing nano-SHAP had the same effect as these drugs alone. Conclusion The nano-SHAP system is of potential use as a drug delivery system.

Chédiak–Higashi syndrome (CHS), a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with leukocyte dysfunction, is characterised by partial skin and hair albinism, immunodeficiency, and abnormal bleeding. Furthermore, it may be associated with cognitive and neurological impairments. The long-term prognosis of patients is generally poor, and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a radical immunodeficiency treatment. Here, we report a case of successful oral management of an 18-year-old woman with CHS accompanied by aggressive periodontitis who underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Cetuximab is remarkable for the relatively high rate and severity of hypersensitivity reactions (HR) being reported in the literature. Screening for cetuximab‐specific IgE in serum via immunoassay has been found to be useful in preventing HR; however, these tests are known to have a low positive predictive rate. In an attempt to remedy this, we evaluated the interaction between cetuximab and IgE on basophils for predicting severe cetuximab‐induced HR. Twelve head and neck cancer patients were enrolled in this single‐institution study: four with a history of cetuximab‐induced HR and eight with no such history. Cetuximab‐specific and galactose‐α‐1,3‐galactose (α‐gal) specific IgEs in serum were measured in vitro using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IgE‐cetuximab binding on basophils was also analyzed to evaluate the decrease in cetuximab molecules on basophils after dissociation of IgE from FcεRI. The positive predictive value associated with the presence of cetuximab‐ or α‐gal‐specific IgE in serum was found to be only 0.67, whereas the negative predictive value was 1.00. On the other hand, in all four patients who developed HR, the cetuximab molecules on basophils were decreased significantly due to the dissociation of IgE from basophils (P