Post-Irradiation Sinus Mucosa Disease in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy

In the past decade, patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) have been deemed candidates for proton radiotherapy, due to the large and comprehensive target volumes and the necessity for the retention of the surrounding healthy tissues. In this study, we aimed to compare the incidence and severity of post-irradiation sinusitis by detecting sinus mucosa diseases (SMDs) via the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with NPC after intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). A total of 53 patients in the IMPT group and 54 patients in the VMAT group were enrolled in this study. There were significantly lower endoscopic scores and Lund–Mackay staging scores determined from MRI scans in the IMPT group during different follow-up periods. For the most vulnerable sinuses, the incidence and severity of SMD were the highest during the third post-radiotherapy month in both groups. These decreased steadily, and there was no significant increase in the incidence and severity of SMD during the second post-radiotherapy year in the IMPT group. Our data show that NPC patients with IMPT have a significantly lower incidence and decreased severity of SMD than those with VMAT. A better and faster recovery of sinonasal function after radiotherapy in the IMPT group was also observed.

Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis revealing undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma at early stage: a case report

Context Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by noninfectious inflammatory damage of skin and predominant muscles in the belts. It is believed to be associated with about 1 in 1000 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This association has been described for locally advanced stages II and III nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It has rarely been described in the early stages (stage I). Case presentation A 65-year-old Moroccan patient residing in Casablanca, with no particular history was referred to the Mohamed VI Center for the treatment of cancers of the University Hospital Center IBN ROCHD in Casablanca, for treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer. He was admitted in poor general condition, performance status 3, with erythema on the face, neck, and extremities. The diagnosis of paraneoplastic dermatomyositis was made owing to progressive muscle weakness and elevation of muscle enzymes associated with the typical rash of the face and hands. He received corticosteroid therapy and then radiotherapy to the nasopharynx with good clinical outcome, disappearance of skin lesions, and recovery of muscle strength. Conclusions We report this case of dermatomyositis in early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is a rarely described entity. Rapid treatment of dermatomyositis improved the patient’s quality of life and enabled him to support specific cancer treatments. This can be used as an element of early diagnosis and monitoring after treatment.

Spectrum of Nasopharyngeal Cancers Seen in the Department of Radiation Oncology University College Hospital, Ibadan

Background: Nasopharyngeal cancer was initially thought to be an uncommon disease in Nigeria, but recent studies have shown a steady increase in the incidence of the disease with an associated increase in morbidity and mortality due to late presentation. Method: This was a retrospective review of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer seen in the department of Radiation Oncology U.C.H. Ibadan from 2000 to 2009. Patient's bio-data, clinical-pathologic presentation and site of referral were retrieved using data extraction form and subsequently analysed using Micrsoft Exel (2013). Results: A total of 205 patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal cancer seen during the study period were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 41.7 years with 144 (70.2%) males and 61(29.8%) females. The commonest presenting complaint was cervical lymphadenopathy in 98.5% of patients followed by nasal blockade, nasal discharge and epistaxis with 82.0%, 78.0% and 51.2% respectively. Undifferentiated carcinoma was the commonest histologic type (68.8%). Majority of patients were civil servants (33.2%). The habit of smoking and alcohol ingestion were unspecified in majority of patients (43.4%). Ingestion of smoked fish has been found in majority of patients 122(59.5%) with the disease in this study. Most of the patients came from southern part of the country which coincide with geographic distribution of Burkitt lymphoma, hence the possibility of Ebsteinbarr virus (EBV) as one of the likely causative agents. Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal cancer is common. Cervical lymphadenopathy, nasal blockade with undifferentiated histology and late presentation were the norm. Referrals were from all the regions of the country.

Right VI palsy revealing nasopharyngeal cancer (UCNT)

VI paralysis is a frequent and classic pathology in the clinical consultation of ophthalmology. The main difficulty is the diagnostic process (for the etiology). In young adults, be aware of the possibility of a tumor with the correlation of rapid imaging. UCNT is frequent in Morocco, its neurological symptoms are misleading because we do not always think of examining the nasopharynx properly in the event of damage to the cranial pairs. Improving the prognosis for this cancer requires early diagnosis.

NPC-Exosome Carry Wild and Mutant-type p53 among Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is known to release a specific exosome. NPC-derived exosome (NPC-Exo) could carry p53. However, information regarding the type of p53 carrier on NPC-Exo remains limited. This study aims to introduce our important findings regarding the type of p53 NPC-Exo cargo.METHODS: Serum from patients with NPC were prepared for exosome isolation with Seramir Exoquick by following the manual instructions. RT-PCR was conducted to determine the expression levels of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) and p53 in the exosome isolate. Partial sequencing of p53 amplicon was conducted to determine mutation type of p53.RESULTS: There were 8 patients enrolled in this study. According to RT-PCR results, the expression levels of LMP-1 and p53 varied in the NPC-Exo isolate. Based on sequencing analysis, 1 case of p53 mutation was noticeable.CONCLUSION: According to current results, the NPC-derived exosome potentially carries not only wild type but also mutant type p53. Further research is needed to explore deeper the effect of the mutant type p53 as an exosome carrier in the clinical application.KEYWORDS: Nasopharyngeal cancer, exosome, p53, mutation

The Carcinogenic Effects of Formaldehyde Occupational Exposure: A Systematic Review

Background: Formaldehyde, classified as a carcinogen in 2004, as of today is widely used in many work activities. From its classification, further studies were performed to evaluate its carcinogenicity. The aim of the systematic review is to update the evidence on occupational exposure to formaldehyde and cancer onset. Methods: The review, in accordance with the PRISMA statement, includes articles in English reporting original results of studies conducted on workers exposed to formaldehyde, considering all types of cancer, published from 1 January 2000 to 30 July 2021 and selected from the Pubmed and Scopus databases. The studies’ quality was assessed by the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: A total of 21 articles were included, conducted in different European, American, and Asian countries. The most investigated occupational areas are those characterized by a deliberate use of formaldehyde. Some studies evaluated all types of cancer, whereas others focused on specific sites such as thyroid and respiratory, lymphohematopoietic, or central nervous systems. The results showed weak associations with lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the need for further original studies carried out on representative samples of workers exposed to measured levels of FA. These studies should be designed to reduce the bias due to co-exposure to other carcinogens.