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.

Human melatonin receptors consist of melatonin receptor 1A (MT1) and melatonin receptor 1B (MT2), and possess various biological activations, which include the control of circadian rhythm and immune regulation. Recently, it have been found that melatonin receptors inhibit cell proliferation and have oncostatic properties, which is being researched in the treatment strategies of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Also, interest in the effect of melatonin receptor’s correlation to head and neck carcinogenesis and application possibilities on head and neck cancer has been found. However, in head and neck cancer, how melatonin receptor relates and functions with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays a major role in human carcinogenesis, is yet unknown. In this research, in HSC5 cell and YD15 cell, the head and neck cancer cell lines, a selective melatonin receptor antagonist, Luzindole, was utilized to examine the effect of melatonin receptors on EMT. After treating Luzindole on HSC5 cells and YD15 cells, the authors evaluated cell viability rate with CCK 8 assay, and performing colony forming assay, invasion assay and western blot analysis, to confirm melatonin receptor’s effect on EMT. When Luzindole was treated on HSC5 cells and YD15 cells in low concentration of 100nM, no significant difference in cell viability was found, whereas Luzindole-treated cells had a significantly increase in the invasion assay. As a result of colony forming assay, in YD15 cells, the number of colony formation decreased slightly, whereas in HSC3 cells, the number of colony formation increased. According to the western blotting, no difference in E-cadherin, Slug, and vimentin protein expression was shown. This result of research indicates the possibility of melatonin receptor being related to EMT and new chemotherapeutic target in the carcinogenesis of head and neck cancer.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva of the head and neck cancer patients. Twenty three cancer patients (19 males, 4 females) who had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy and twenty four healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) as a control were included. Salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and cariogenic activity using unstimulated saliva were examined. Compared to saliva of the control group, salivary flow rate (p<0.001) and salivary pH (p<0.001) were significantly lower in head and neck cancer patients. The colony counts of Lactobacilli was higher in head and neck cancer patients (p<0.05) than in control group. These salivary factors and cariogenic activity can increase the prevalence of dental caries in head and neck cancer patients.

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.

암환자의 방사선 치료기술은 3D-CRT, IMRT, Tomotherapy로 발전해 가고 있으며 이 3가지의 치료법은 임상에서 가장 많이 쓰이는 방사선 치료기술이다. 본 연구에서는 3D-CRT, IMRT(Linac Based) 그리고 Tomotherapy 치료시정상조직과 종양조직의 선량분포를 비교해 보고자 한다. 실험방법으로는 조직 등가물질로 이루어진 인체모형팬톰 (Anthropomorphic Phantom)을 대상으로 CT simulation을 실시(Slice Thickness : 3mm)하여 획득된 영상에 GTV를비인두 부위로 정하고 PTV는 GTV에 2mm정도의 영역을 포함시켜 치료계획용 장비(ADAC-Pinnacle3. TomotherapyHi-Art System)으로 전송한다. 치료계획은 PTV의 처방선량을 7020 cGy로 설정한 후 PTV에 부여되는 선량값과 정상조직인 이하선, 구강, 척수에 흡수되는 선량값을 산출하였다. 실험결과 PTV에 분포된 선량값은 Tomotherapy, LinacBased - IMRT, 3D-CRT가 각각 6923 cGy, 6901 cGy, 6718 cGy의 선량분포를 보여 종양조직 처방선량값인 7020cGy의 95%이상 부여되어 종양제어측면(TCP)에 부합하였으며 정상조직(이하선, 구강, 척수)은 각각 1966 cGy(Tomotherapy), 2405 cGy(IMRT), 2468 cGy(3D-CRT)[이하선], 2991 cGy(Tomotherapy), 3062 cGy(IMRT),3684 cGy(3D-CRT)[구강], 1768 cGy(Tomotherapy), 2151 cGy(IMRT), 4031 cGy(3D-CRT)[척수]의 선량이 분포되었으며 이는 정상조직 합병증발생율(NTCP)의 선량을 넘지 않았다. 모든 치료기법에서 종양조직과 정상조직이 선량분포측면에 부합하였다. 3D-CRT의 치료법이 선량분포 면에서 가장 양호하지 않았지만 종양조직제어율(TCP)과 정상조직합병증율(NTCP)을 고려해 볼 때 기준치를 벗어나지 않는 선량이 분포 되었다. 상대적으로 선량분포가 우수한 Tomotherapy, IMRT는 오랜 치료시간 때문에 폐쇄공포증환자나 호흡불량 환자가 치료받는데 어려울 수 있다. 특히 토모테라피의 경우 치료 전에 고에너지 컴퓨터 단층촬영을 매일 실시하기 때문에 불필요한 방사선 피폭을 초래할 수 있다. 결론적으로 Tomotherapy가 선량분포에서 가장 우수한 치료기법으로 평가되었으며, IMRT, 3D-CRT의 순으로 방사선치료의 적합성을 보였다. 하지만 실제 치료시 환자의 상태에 따라 제한적으로 3차원 입체조형치료를 시행하여도무방하다고 사료된다.