ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The most widely used method to classify prognostic factors in cancers today is TNM. However, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) often demonstrates different behaviors in relation to aggressiveness and therapeutic response at the same TNM stage. So, in such cases biomarkers can be used to identify the biological diversity of these tumors more reliably, leading to better therapeutic strategies and disease management. The presence of inflammatory immune cells in the tumor microenvironment can have pro or antitumor effects and the investigation of the expression of inflammatory markers in OSSC can be usefulto design immunotherapeutic interventions. The Transforming Growth Factor alpha is a potent stimulator of cell migration that acts on cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer, as well as immune suppression and angiogenesis. Inflammatory cytokines, such as Interferon-gamma, mediate macrophage differentiation. Macrophages are an important component of the OSCC microenvironment. The greater amount of tumor-associated macrophages, especially the M2 phenotype, may be associated with a more aggressive biological behavior of the OSCC and, consequently, with reduced survival.
RESUMEN: El método más utilizado para clasificar los factores de pronóstico en los cánceres en la actualidad es TNM. Sin embargo, el carcinoma oral de células escamosas (COCE) a menudo muestra diferentes comportamientos en relación con la agresividad y la respuesta terapéutica en la misma etapa TNM. Entonces, en tales casos, los biomarcadores pueden usarse para identificar la diversidad biológica de estos tumores de manera más confiable, lo que lleva a mejores estrategias terapéuticas y manejo de la enfermedad. La presencia de células inmunes inflamatorias en el microambiente tumoral puede tener efectos pro o antitumorales y la investigación de la expresión de marcadores inflamatorios en COCE puede ser útil para diseñar intervenciones inmunoterapéuticas. El factor de crecimiento transformante α es un potente estimulador de la migración celular que actúa sobre la proliferación celular, la invasión y metástasis del cáncer, así como la inmunosupresión y la angiogénesis. Las citocinas inflamatorias, como el IFN-γ, median en la diferenciación de macrófagos. Los macrófagos son un componente importante del microambiente COCE. La mayor cantidad de macrófagos asociados a tumores, especialmente el fenotipo M2, puede estar asociada a un comportamiento biológico más agresivo del COCE y, en consecuencia, a una menor supervivencia.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Oral infection may be a source of bacteremia in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between patients with poor periodontal status and complications after HSCT. METHODS: A cohort of patients with hematological malignancies candidates for autologous HSCT was observed before and during the neutropenic phase of HSCT. A primary evaluation was performed before the HSCT procedure, including medical and socio-demographic data and physical examination (number of teeth and decayed, missing and filled teeth index (DMFT), oral mucosa, and full mouth periodontal assessment). During the neutropenic phase, data regarding the development of febrile neutropenia, bacteremia, and mucositis were also prospectively obtained. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included. The most common baseline disease was multiple myeloma (70 %). In the primary evaluations, the median DMFT was 13 (ranging 0-27), and periodontitis and gingivitis were present in 29 and 60 % of the patients, respectively. During the neutropenic phase of HSCT, fever occurred in 96 % of patients, and bacteremia was documented in 29 %. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common isolated bacteria. Patients who developed bacteremia had a higher frequency of oral disorders compared with those without bacteremia, but it was not statistically significant. Oral mucositis affected 89.6 % of the patients, and patients with gingivitis or periodontal disorders had a high frequency of mucositis. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of oral pathologic conditions previous to HSCT procedures was very high in the studied population. A possible association was noted between previous gingivitis and the development of mucositis during the neutropenia of HSCT.
