Elevated red blood cell distribution width predicts poor prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Although red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to reflect inflammation and nutritional status and to predict prognosis in several different types of cancer, little is known about how RDW might be related to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative RDW in OSCC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 236 OSCC patients from Jinan Stomatological Hospital (Shandong, People's Republic of China) in this retrospective study. All enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups: high RDW (≥15%) and low RDW (<15%) according to the detected RDW values. The correlation of RDW and clinical characteristics was explored, and the prognostic significance of RDW evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank analysis, and the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The pretreatment median RDW among all OSCC patients was 14.4%, with a range from 11.6% to 24.5%. The RDW was found to be significantly correlated with node metastasis, tumor length, and TNM stage (P<0.05 for all). As for biochemical parameters, the results showed that higher RDW values were significantly associated with hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell count, albumin, and C-reactive protein (P<0.01 for all). A significant association of RDW with the tumor marker cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA21-1) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) was also observed (P=0.02, and P=0.03; respectively). Moreover, patients with higher RDW were more likely to receive postoperative therapy (P=0.02). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that a high RDW was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P<0.01), especially in the early stages (I-II). Multivariate analysis revealed that an elevated RDW at diagnosis was an independent prognostic factor for shorter OS (HR =1.46, 95% CI: 1.13-2.86) after adjustment for other cancer-related prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that an elevated preoperative RDW (≥15%) at diagnosis may independently predict poorer OS in patients with OSCC, but better-designed studies in the future should be performed to further confirm the value of monitoring RDW.

EphA8 is a Prognostic Factor for Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Here we explore the potential effects of EphA8, which is one of the receptors in Ephs subfamily of RTKs (receptor tyrosine kinases), in the progression and prognosis of OTSCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 119 OTSCC patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) were utilized to examine the expression of EphA8 in OTSSC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. The relationship between EphA8 expression and the clinicopathological features of OTSCC patients were analyzed by chi-square. Survival analysis was carried out with Kaplan-Meier curve and the related log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was then undertaken to assess the prognosis factor by utilizing the Cox proportional hazard regression model. In addition, MTT assay and Matrigel invasion assay were performed to examine the effects of EphA8 on the proliferation and invasion capacities of human oral squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-25) and human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells (H357). RESULTS Q-PCR and IHC staining revealed that EphA8 was highly expressed in OTSCC tissues, especially in advanced stage OTSCC tissues. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that high EphA8 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis, similar to age, smoking habit, drinking habit, tumor size, and TNM stage. Multivariate analysis indicated that EphA8 expression could serve as an independent prognostic factor in OTSCC. In vitro experiments revealed that overexpression of EphA8 might promote the progression of OTSCC via enhancing the invasion capacity but not proliferation capacity of tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS EphA8 was highly expressed in OTSCC tissues and was significantly associated with poor prognosis of OTSCC.

The association between MTHFR gene polymorphisms (C677T, A1298C) and oral squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A consensus has not been reached regarding the association of MTHFR gene polymorphism and susceptibility to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We performed a meta-analysis to better evaluate the association between MTHFR C677T, A1298C polymorphism and OSCC risk. The studies regarding the association of MTHFR C677T, A1298C polymorphisms and OSCC were identified in PubMed and EMBASE and Google Scholar. The pooled odd rates (ORs) with 95%CIs were estimated using a fixed-effect or random-effect model. The associations between MTHFR polymorphisms and OSCC risk were assessed under the dominant, recessive and additive models. A collective total of 1539 OSCC patients and 2131 normal controls were included across 13 studies. The minor T allele of MTHFR C677T was significantly associated with the increased risk of OSCC development(OR = 1.35, 95%CI 1.04-1.76). Individuals carrying the ''T" allele (TT+CT) had a nearly 43% increased risk for OSCC development when compared with CC (OR = 1.43, 95%CI 1.02-1.99). Under additive model, the results also showed that individuals with CT or TT genotype were more susceptible to OSCC than CC (OR = 1.45, 95%CI 1.02-2.08; OR = 1.79, 95%CI 1.28-2.50; respectively). The subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed that significant difference in C677T allele distribution could be observed in European (OR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.02-1.75) rather than Asian (OR = 1.59, 95%CI 0.91-2.78). No significant association of MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and OSCC risk could be observed. The present study revealed that T allele and TT genotype of MTHFR C677T polymorphism were significantly associated with the increased risk of OSCC development.

Indication selection and efficacy analysis of condylar fracture / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#The present study examined the effects of surgical and conservative treatment on the curative effect of patients with condylar fracture to determine the best treatment scheme and indication. @* Methods @#A total of 339 clinical cases of condylar fracture were selected, and pain severity, degree of mouth opening, angle of condylar fracture (calculated as the difference in the angle of the condylar between the fractured side and uninjured side) and the height of the mandibular ramus (calculated as the difference in the height of the mandibular ramus between the fractured side and uninjured side) of patients at admission were measured and analyzed. The effects of surgical treatment (rigid internal fixation) and conservative treatment (functional therapy) were evaluated and compared 6 months after treatment. @*Results @#Among the patients with a condylar fracture displacement angle ≥ 11.50°, Significantly more (χ2= 26.38, P < 0.05) patients exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [69.4% (118/170)] than those after conservative treatment [35.4% (29/82)]. Among the patients with a condylar fracture displacement angle < 11.50°, there was not a significant difference (χ2= 0.55, P > 0.05) between the numbers of patients who exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [52.4% (22/42)] and conservative treatment [44.4% (20/45)]. Among the patients with mandibular ramus height ≥ 4.19 mm, significantly more (χ2= 20.35, P < 0.05) patients exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [64.7% (112/173)] compared with those after conservative treatment [35.6% (32/90)]. Among the patients with mandibular ramus height < 4.19 mm, there was not a significant difference (χ2= 0.21, P > 0.05) between the numbers of patients who exhibited good recovery 6 months after surgical treatment [46.7% (14/30)] and conservative treatment [41.3% (19/46)]. @*Conclusion@# Patients with a displacement angle of condyle fracture greater than 11.50° and a mandibular ramus height less than 4.19 mm exhibit the greatest pain and a better effect from surgical treatment than those from conservative treatment.