A total of 481,414 Korean participants aged 40-79 years at enrollment were examined. The hazard ratios for all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, which were adjusted for potential confounding factors. In the overall study population, the highest AST/ALT ratio level was significantly associated with risk of all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer mortality (p < 0.01). After excluding participants who died of all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer within five years of enrollment, the main results remained similar to those of the analysis of all deaths in the study population. These findings indicate that serum AST/ALT ratio is positively associated with an increased mortality risk in all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer.

Spirodelae Herba (SH) and Perilla Frutescens (PF) extracts have been widely used in clinical practice with various disorders for thousands of years. There are some reports regarding the anticancer effects of SH and PF each by each, but their mixture have not been investigated and their mechanisms also have not been clear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anticancer mechanisms and their effects of the mixture of SH and PF extracts on head and neck cancer cell line. Head and neck carcinoma KB cells were treated with SH, PF and their mixture. Anticancer effects were investigated by searching cancer cell death pathway; apoptosis and autophagy, which have been regarded to be effective and safe methods. Apoptosis, which is termed a programmed cell death, was observed by TUNNEL assay. Autophagy, which is termed a type II programmed cell death, was observed by acridine orange red staining. Additionally, the protein expressions associated with apoptosis and autophagy were detected for their mechanism by western blots. The mixture of SH and PF extracts induced autophagic and apoptotic cell death simultaneously in cancer cells. And 0.4 mg/ml of the mixture with SH and PF extracts down-regulated the expression of mTOR, however, the expressions of ATG5 and LC3-II, which induced autophagy, up-regulated. The mixture of SH and PF extracts also down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2, but up-regulate the expressions of PARP-1 cleavage, Caspase-9 cleavage, Caspase-3 cleavage and BAX, which induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggested that the mixture of SH and PF extracts induce autophagic and apoptotic cell death simultaneously in head and neck cancer cells and it could be used as an alternative for anti-cancer drugs.

This study examined the effects of a physical therapy program on quality of life (QOL), and neck and shoulder disability in head and neck cancer patients. The program included neck and shoulder range of motion (ROM) exercises, massage, progressive strengthening exercises, and stretching exercises. Sixteen patients who were assigned to an experimental group performed physical therapy for 40 minutes three times a week for eight weeks. Fifteen other patients were assigned to a control group who did not performed the physical therapy program. The European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) and head and neck (EORTC QLQ-H&N) instruments, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) were assessed before and after the rehabilitation program. The 40-minute program consisted of a 10-minute ROM exercise for the neck and shoulder, a 10-minute massage and 15-minute of progressive resistance exercises, followed by a five-minute stretching exercises. Statistically significant differences were noted for changes in global health, physical function in the EORTC QLQ-C30 and cancer related symptoms in the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 (p<.05). The NDI also showed significant differences (p<.05). Physical therapy may therefore benefit the physical aspects and QOL and improve neck and shoulder disability in patients with head and neck cancer.

We conducted a series of in vitro experiments to evaluate the efficiency of photodynamic therapy on head and neck cancer cell using hydroxybacteriochlorine from photosynthetic bacteria. We tested the cytotoxicity of the hydroxybacteriochlorine by MTI assay and observed the cell death pattern(apoptosis or necrosis) after PDT by hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining methods IC50 value of the hydroxybacteriochlorine was 0.22μg/rrúi. At higher doses of hydroxybacteriochlorine () 0.6μg/rrúi) , cancer cells died exclusively by necrosis after PDT. By contrast, at IC50 value, hydroxybacteriochlorine induced cancer cell to undergo apoptotic cell death. The induction begins approximately 6 hours after PDT. We investigates intracellular localization of hydroxybacteriochlorine by head & neck cancer cell via confocal laser scanning microscopy. Head & neck cancer cells dual-stained with hydroxybacteriochlorine and a panel of organelle- specific fluorescence probes (Mitotracker, Lysotracker, ER-Tracker) revealed an intracellular fluorescence distribution restricted to cytoplasmic compartments with no detectable fluorescence in the nucleus Confocal images of cells containing hydroxybacteriochlorine were never overlap in subcellular organelle fluorescence when digitally over layed with the organelle-specific fluorescence probe images of the same cells. These results demonstrated that the hydroxybacteriochlorine may have a function as a photosensitizer.

The goals of palliative chemotherapy are to improve overall survival and the quality of life through relief of symptoms. On the other hand, chemotherapy has many side effects, such as, myelosupression, neuropathy, gastro-intestinal symptoms, and infertility. On the many known side effects of chemotherapy, bleeding occurs in approximately 6-10% of patients with advanced cancer. Most of bleeding associated with chemotherapy is due to local vessel damage and systemic process, such as, disseminatated intravascular coagulopathy or abnormalities in platelet function or number. This symptom led to worse progression of quality of life and severe stress state in patient and their attendant. Here, the authors report a case of chemotherapy- related bleeding in maxillary cancer patient and successful achievement of hemostasis using interventional endovascular therapy.