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The Second International Symposium on HPV Infection in Head and Neck Cancer was held on 3rd-4th November 2016 in Leipzig, Germany. The meeting brought together researchers and clinicians to share the latest knowledge on HPV infection in head and neck cancer and to join active and constructive scientific discussions. This report summarizes the major themes discussed during the symposium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound is one of the main diagnostic techniques for parotid gland tumours. It is inexpensive, non-invasive and widely available. However, interpretation of the images is highly subjective and constitutes a major limitation. To overcome this problem, we developed a graphic diagram to provide a standardised template that can be used for more precise identification of the tumour localisation within the parenchyma of the parotid gland. This new diagram may be used to provide surgeons with an improved and more objective localisation of the tumour. The study included 237 patients who underwent surgery for parotid tumours. To obtain the precise spatial location of the tumours, three topographic coordinates of tumour location in the coronal, sagittal and transversal plane were marked preoperatively during sonography within the parenchyma of the parotid gland. The localisation identified ultrasonically was then compared to the postsurgical report: 197 (83 %) tumours were found within the superficial lobe of the parotid gland and 40 (17 %) within the deep lobe of the parotid gland. In 157 (66 %) cases, tumours were found within the lower pole of the parotid gland, and in 64 (27 %) at the level of earlobe and its insertion, 16 (7 %) tumours were located at the level of the tragus and above it. Based on the results obtained, a graphic diagram of parotid gland tumour locations was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intralesional use of cidofovir (Vistide) has been one of the mainstays of adjuvant therapy in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) since 1998. In 2011, a communication provided by the producer of cidofovir addressed very serious side effects concerning its off-label use. As this was a general warning, it was inconclusive whether this would account for its use in RRP. The aim of this study is to determine whether nephrotoxic, neutropenic, or oncogenic side effects have occurred after intralesional use of cidofovir in patients with RRP. Update of recent developments in RRP, a multicentre questionnaire and a multicentre retrospective chart review. Sixteen hospitals from eleven countries worldwide submitted records of 635 RRP patients, of whom 275 were treated with cidofovir. RRP patients received a median of three intralesional injections (interquartile range 2-6). There were no statistical differences in occurrence of neutropenia or renal dysfunction before and after cidofovir. There was no statistical difference in occurrence of upper airway and tracheal malignancies between the cidofovir and the non-cidofovir group. In this retrospective patient chart review, no clinical evidence was found for more long-term nephrotoxicity, neutropenia or laryngeal malignancies after the administration of intralesional cidofovir in RRP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis in patients suffering from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas depends on many factors. However, regional lymph node metastases are the most important parameter in determining the cure and survival of patients with head and neck cancers. The evaluation of cancer cell biology enables differentiation of their proliferation and tendency of metastases. Immunohistochemical examinations complement the well-established routine histological examination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic importance of the level of immunoproliferating proteins such as cyclin D1, nuclear antigen Ki67 and suppressor gene p53 for regional lymph node metastases in laryngeal carcinoma. The research was carried out on 73 patients treated for squamous cancer of the larynx in the Department of Otolaryngology University School of Medical Sciences in Poznan in the years 1994–1999. The group was comprised of 4 female and 69 male patients. Their ages ranged from 37 to 79 years, with a mean of 59 years. Clinical data included sex, age, localization and local and regional extent of the tumor, presence or lack of distant metastases, treatment, histological examination as well as immunohistochemical evaluation of suppressor gene p53, proliferative proteins Ki67 and cyclin D1. No statistically significant correlation was found between staining intensity of suppressor gene p53, cyclin D1 and the degree of local advancement (T). There was no correlation between the level of immunoproliferative markers and regional lymph node metastases. Statistically significant correlation was found between T stage and staining for Ki67 (P=0.017) as well as between cyclin D1 level and Ki67 (P<0.05). In conclusion, (1) no significant correlation was found between Ki67 and cyclin D1, p53 and TNM classification; (2) lack of correlation was confirmed between N+, p53, Ki67, cyclin D1 and Jacobsson classification; (3) the degree of histological grading correlated, however, with Jacobsson classification and cyclin D1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difficult and complicated mechanism of cancer development with little knowledge about the biology of existing cancers can lead to a permanent search for new examination techniques to improve the precision of life expectancy in patients and the selection of the most efficient methods of treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze certain prognostic factors, i.e., p53, Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), DNA ploidy and cell proliferating activity, as well as the degree of morphological differentiation and cell maturity evaluated on an ultrastructural level in patients with laryngeal cancers in connection with data obtained from follow-up examinations and the clinical course of the disease. Neoplastic tissue was taken from 120 patients with laryngeal cancers. All underwent surgical treatment, radiotherapy and combined treatment in the Department of Otolaryngology, Karol Marcinkowski University School of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland, and the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University, Bergen, Norway. Before beginning treatment all patients underwent histological verification of their neoplastic tissues. Histopathological examination proved that the majority of cases (95%) had a squamous cell carcinoma. The occurrence of changes within the lymph nodes of the neck (N) was significantly correlated with T, S, Ki67, metastases to lymph nodes, DNA ploidy, site and surgery performed. The degree of clinical progression (S) was intercorrelated with T, N, p53, Ki67, PCNA, DNA ploidy, site and laryngectomy. The occurrence of oncoprotein p53 in neoplastic cells was measured by the staining degree of their nuclei and was correlated with T, S, DNA ploidy, metastases to lymph nodes, PCNA and site. The degree of staining of neoplastic cells for the nuclear antigen Ki67 was correlated to T, N, G, S, DNA ploidy, metastases to lymph nodes and surgical treatment. The proliferative antigen PCNA in the examined population of patients was intercorrelated with T, p53, Ki67, metastases to lymph nodes and surgical treatment. The results obtained from DNA flow cytometry could be associated with N, G, p53, Ki67 and metastases to lymph nodes. On the basis of the results obtained, the techniques suggested for the morphological and biological evaluation of neoplastic cells in cancer of the larynx should include TNM classification + G + DNA + p53 + Ki67. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p53 gene is known as an anti-oncogene that manifests its function by controlling the cell cycle and is responsible for apoptosis of cells with unrepaired DNA. An accelerated p53 protein synthesis is the first response of a cell following DNA damage. However, mutations of the p53 gene can disturb protein synthesis or may be responsible for synthesis of a changed protein unable to control the cell cycle. Laryngeal tissue specimens from 120 patients were tested by immunohistopathological staining to detect mutated wild-type p53 protein. It was found that p53-positive specimens correlated with TNM staging and histopathological grading. Another indication of entering the cell cycle and undertaking an active proliferation by laryngeal cells was shown by detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 nuclear antigen, which appeared in proliferating cells (late G1, S-G2 and M phase), but was absent in resting cells. Scoring of the staining for p53 protein, PCNA and Ki67 correlated with each other. DNA from 40 specimens was then isolated, amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analysed by single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing for mutation in the p53 gene. Fifteen DNA samples were found to be positive, while mutations were detected in exons 5–8 in 13 samples. The majority of mutations were found in tissue specimens from T3 and T4 tumors. A possible explanation is almost half was attributable to genotoxic effects of tobacco smoking. Changes in the p53 gene and its products may also reflect early changes in laryngeal carcinogenesis and be of prognostic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]