The current role of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy within the continuum of actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Actinic cheilitis (AC) is one of the most frequent pathologies to affect the lips. Studies show that the most commonplace oral malignancy, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), often emerges from AC lesions. Invasive diagnostic techniques performed on the lips carry a high risk of complications, but reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), a non-invasive skin imaging technique, may change the current diagnostic pathway. This retrospective study was aimed at consolidating the RCM diagnostic criteria for AC and lip SCC. The study was conducted in two tertiary care centers in Bucharest, Romania. We included adults with histopathologically confirmed AC and SCC who also underwent RCM examination. Of the twelve lesions included in the study, four were AC and eight were SCC. An atypical honeycomb pattern and the presence of target cells in the epidermis were RCM features associated with AC. SCC was typified by the presence of complete disruption of the epidermal architecture and dermal inflammatory infiltrates. The mean blood vessel diameter in SCC was 18.55 µm larger than that in AC (p = 0.006) and there was no significant difference (p = 0.64) in blood vessel density, as measured by RCM, between SCC and AC. These data confirm that RCM can be useful for the in vivo distinction between AC and lip SCC.

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Metformin sensitizes the response of oral squamous cell carcinoma to cisplatin treatment through inhibition of NF-κB/HIF-1α signal axis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep35788 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Xiaofeng Qi ◽

Wengguang Xu ◽

Junqi Xie ◽

Yufeng Wang ◽

Shengwei Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Oral Cancers ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Resistance towards chemotherapy is a common complication in treatment of oral cancers, which leads to treatment failure and poor outcome. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has shown that tumour hypoxia significantly contributes to chemoresistance. Metformin, a widely used oral hypoglycaemic drug, can reportedly potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in various cancers; however, the underlying mechanisms are intricate and have not been fully understood. In this study, we explored the role of metformin in chemosensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OSCC) to cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo, and attempted to elucidate its possible underlying mechanisms. Encouragingly, we found that metformin synergistically enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity and reversed the chemoresistance to certain extent. This mechanism could likely be related with inhibition of the NF-κB/HIF-1α signal axis and lead to the downregulation of hypoxia-regulated genes products. Therefore, metformin could serve as a chemosensitiser for cisplatin-based regimens for OSCC, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future use in the treatment of oral cancers.

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Current Role of Radiotherapy in the Management of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction ◽

10.1177/1943387520971418 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 194338752097141

Author(s):

William M. Mendenhall ◽

Adam L. Holtzman ◽

Roi Dagan ◽

Curtis M. Bryant ◽

Kathryn E. Hitchcock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Advanced Disease ◽

Current Role ◽

Extranodal Extension ◽

Postoperative Setting ◽

Extent Of Disease

Study Design: Literature review. Objective: To review the current role of radiotherapy (RT) in the management of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: Review of selected literature. Results: T1-T2N0 SCCs may be treated with either RT alone or surgery with a high likelihood of cure. The pendulum swung toward surgery with postoperative RT (PORT) added depending on the pathological findings in the mid 1980s. Patients with positive margins, extranodal extension (ENE), and/or 4 or more positive nodes receive concomitant chemotherapy (POCRT). Patients with T3-T4 and/or positive regional nodes are treated with surgery and PORT alone or POCRT. The likelihood of cure is moderate to low depending on extent of disease. The likelihood of major complications ranges from 10% to 30% depending on the method of reconstruction and the aggressiveness of postoperative PORT/POCRT. Patients with very advanced disease are treated with palliative RT, chemotherapy, or supportive care. Conclusions: The role of RT in the management of oral cavity SCC is primarily in the postoperative setting with palliative RT being reserved for those with very advanced disease where the likelihood of cure is remote.

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