Models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using bioengineering approaches.

The use of bioengineering methods and approaches is extremely promising for the development of experimental models of cancer, especially head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) that are characterized by early metastasis and rapid progression., for testing novel anticancer drugs and diagnostics. This review summarizes the most relevant HNSCC tumor models used to this day as well as future directions for improved modeling of the malignant disease. Apart from conventional 2D-cell cultivation methods and in vivo animal cancer models a number of bioengineering techniques of modeling HNSCC tumors were reported: genetic-engineering, ethanol/tobacco exposure experiment, spheroids, hydrogel-based cell culture, scaffold-based cell culture, microfluidics, bone-tumor niche cell culture, cancer and normal cells co-culture, cancer cells, and bacteria co-culture. An organized set of these models can constitute a system of HNSCC experimental modeling, which gives potential towards developing the newest approaches in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HNSCC.

Psychological and Aesthetic Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo breast cancer treatment require psychosocial and aesthetic rehabilitation. Advantages of breast reconstruction in-patient rehabilitation are well known. Oncoplastic organ-preserving surgery offers aesthetically better results, yet is often considered less safe than more radical procedures. We compared the aesthetic and psychological outcomes in patients undergoing breast reconstruction and oncoplastic breast cancer treatment. METHODS: In total, 1130 patients who received either breast reconstruction or oncoplastic breast cancer surgery were included in the study. Patients were classified into two groups. Group 1 included 510 patients who received breast reconstruction surgery. Group 2 included 620 patients who received oncoplastic surgery. The following aspects were compared between the two groups: demographics, tumor progression, and immunohistochemical aspects, complications, hospitalization stay, and psychological and aesthetic outcomes. RESULTS: Patients in the oncoplastic group showed statistically significant higher psychosocial and aesthetic outcomes, as well as lower incidence of complications, revision rate, disease progression, and recurrence. The majority of oncoplastic patients were treated in early stages of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Offering superior treatment results, oncoplastic organ-preserving surgery should be favored in patients with earlier stages of cancer progression.