Polyamine Metabolites as Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer Biofluids.

Background: Novel, non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers that facilitate early intervention in head and neck cancer are urgently needed. Polyamine metabolites have been observed to be elevated in numerous cancer types and correlated with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to assess the concentration of polyamines in the saliva and urine from head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, compared to healthy controls. Methods: Targeted metabolomic analysis was performed on saliva and urine from 39 HNC patient samples and compared to 89 healthy controls using a quantitative, targeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry approach. Results: The metabolites N1-acetylspermine (ASP), N8-acetylspermidine (ASD) and N1,N12-diacetylspermine (DAS) were detected at significantly different concentrations in the urine of HNC patients as compared to healthy controls. Only ASP was detected at elevated levels in HNC saliva as compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: These data suggest that assessment of polyamine-based metabolite biomarkers within the saliva and urine warrants further investigation as a potential diagnostic in HNC patients.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: Before and During the Pandemic

Objectives To describe the impact that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had on the presentation of patients with head and neck cancer in a single tertiary care center. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic institution. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who presented as new patients between September 10, 2019, and September 11, 2020. Patients presenting during the 6 months leading up to the announcement of the pandemic (pre–COVID-19 period) on March 11, 2020, were compared to those presenting during the first 6 months of the pandemic (COVID-19 period). Demographics, time to diagnosis and treatment, and tumor characteristics were analyzed. Results There were a total of 137 patients analyzed with newly diagnosed malignancies. There were 22% fewer patients evaluated during the COVID-19 timeframe. The groups were similar in demographics, duration of symptoms, time to diagnosis, time to surgery, extent of surgery, and adjuvant therapy. There was a larger proportion of tumors classified as T3/T4 (61.7%) in the COVID-19 period vs the pre–COVID-19 period (40.3%) (P = .024), as well as a larger median tumor size during the COVID-19 period (P = .0002). There were no differences between nodal disease burden (P = .48) and distant metastases (P = .42). Conclusion Despite similar characteristics, time to diagnosis, and surgery, our findings suggest that there was an increase in primary tumor burden in patients with HNSCC during the early COVID-19 pandemic.