Human papilloma virus in head and neck squamous cell cancer

Epidemiologic and molecular evidences have established a strong link between high risk types of Human Papilloma Virus and a subgroup of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas [HNSCC]. We evaluated the frequency of HPV positivity in HNSCC and its relationship to demographic and some risk factor variables in an open casecontrol study. Fourteen recently diagnosed patients with squamous cell cancer of oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx aged 18-50 years were examined from 2008-2010 in Tabriz, Iran. HPV DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded blocks of each patient's sample for PCR evaluation. Saliva samples of 94 control cancer-free subjects were collected for DNA analysis. Multivariable logistic regression method was used to calculate odds ratio for case-control comparisons. High risk HPV was detected in 6[42.8%] patients, and 6[5.3%] control subjects which was statistically significant [p<0.0001]. HPV-18 was the most frequent type both in the cases and controls. HPV-16 DNA was detected in two patients of the case group, but it was not detected in any of the controls. The relation between demographic and risk factor variables was not statistically significant. HPV infection has a significant impact on HNSCC. Despite HPV-16 stronger impact, HPV-18 is more likely to cause malignant degeneration in such cancers amongst some communities. It is vital to introduce and conduct immunization schedules in health care systems to protect communities to some extent

[Photosensitivity and radiosensitivity of indocyanine green on human cell lines MCF7 and DFW]

In this study with the aim of benefiting from non-laser sources in photodynamic therapy, photo and radio sensitivity of indocyanine green as a sensitizer in photodynamic and radiation therapies were investigated. Based on the broad absorption peak of indocyanine green and using non-coherent light, the experiments were performed on human cells derived from breast cancer and melanoma. To investigate chemical, optical and radiational cytotoxicity and also photosensitivity and radiosensitivity of indocyanine green, different dozes of this material were examined. After 24 h of incubation of cells with indocyanine green, independent treatment groups were exposed to 730 +/- 20 nm light with power densities of 30, 60, and 108 J/cm[2] and 100 kVp x-ray [2 and 4 Gy]. The effect of therapy on cells was determined by MTT test. Indocyanine green showed no significant cytotoxicity. It had a good efficiency for photodynamic therapy using non-coherent sources in the wavelength of 730 +/- 20 nm, and the efficiency of treatment was dependent on the dosage of light. No significant relation between indocyanine green and radiation was observed. According to the findings, indocyanine green can be used as a photosensitizer in the range of 730 +/- 20 nm. Since there was no significant difference between groups which received both radiation and drug and those which received only radiation, indocyanine green cannot be considered as a radiosensitizer