Infrasound a new weapon in cancer therapy?

BACKGROUND: Researchers take different positions when describing the effects of infrasound on the human body. Although several studies investigated the likely harmful effects of infrasound exposure from wind turbines a significant connection has not been found yet. There is evidence that infrasound interacts with cell metabolism and may disrupt cell membrane integrity. OBJECTIVES: The suggested impairment of the cells' ultrastructure by infrasound leads to the question of whether infrasound can be therapeutically used, for instance in cancer therapy. This review provides the current state of the literature. METHOD: Current literature on infrasound in cancer therapy including all studies with the search terms 'cancer' and 'infrasound' were identified and reviewed until the year 2020. RESULTS: The present state of research reveals promising effects of targeted infrasound in cancer therapy. Infrasound directly affects the tumor cells' ultrastructure and seems to sensitize several types of cancer to chemotherapy, presumably due to membrane permeabilization. The application of infrasound on tumor cells without other therapeutic agents demonstrates different effects that probably depend on the type of cells, the applied frequency and sound pressure level as well as the time of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of infrasound on cancer cells is not completely understood yet, hence, further studies have to be conducted to clarify the ultrastructural and metabolic changes inside the tumor cells. The development of suitable infrasound generators for the application in a clinical setting would be an important course of action.

Treatment success after rhinosurgery: an evaluation of subjective and objective parameters.

PURPOSE: Septal deviation and nose deformities are widely prevalent. As a consequence, patients may complain about difficulties in nasal breathing leading to a perception of diminished disease-specific quality of life. In a prospective randomized trial, we aimed to analyse the outcome of septoplasty (SPL) and septorhinoplasty (SRP) on patient satisfaction. METHODS: Patients with functional indication for SPL (n = 19) or SRP (n = 54) were included and randomized for additional turbinoplasty. Preoperative clinical symptoms were collected with SNOT-20 GAV (Sinu-nasal outcome test-20-German adapted version) and NOSE© (nasal obstruction symptom evaluation) questionnaires. The final evaluation of treatment success was performed 9 months after surgery with SNOT-20 GAV, NOSE© and a self-established feedback questionnaire. Nasal breathing and obstruction were objectively measured with rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry [minimum cross-sectional area 2 (MCA2)]. RESULTS: Minimum cross-sectional area 2 was statistically improved compared to the pre-treatment value in SPL (p = 0.0004) and SRP (p = 0.0001). Regarding MCA2 values of matched patient groups, similar findings were detected (SPL: p = 0.0013, SRP: p < 0.0001). Sinu-nasal outcome test-20 GAV and NOSE© scores were significantly reduced after both surgical procedures (NOSE©: SPL: p < 0.0001, SRP: p < 0.0001; SNOT-20 GAV: SPL: p = 0.0068, SRP: p < 0.0001). Evaluation of patient satisfaction in a self-established feedback questionnaire revealed a motivation of 81% of patients to redo the surgery (SPL 13/16, SRP 34/42) and a notably general satisfaction of 86% for SPL and 80% for SRP. CONCLUSION: Rhinosurgery leads to quantitative better nasal breathing and increased disease-specific satisfaction. However, this study implies the importance of the right selection of patients and the correct indication of the surgical technique.

Influence of travel burden on tumor classification and survival of head and neck cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Cancer patients have to overcome various barriers to obtain diagnostics and treatment at head and neck cancer centers. Travel distance to a specialized hospital may result in psychosocial and financial distress, thus interfering with diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up care. In this study, we have aimed to analyze the association of travel distance with cTNM status, UICC stage at primary diagnosis, and survival outcomes of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. METHODS: We have analyzed data of 1921 consecutive HNC patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2019 at the head and neck cancer center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm (CCCU), Germany. Postal code-based travel distance calculation in kilometers, TNM status, and UICC stage were recorded at initial diagnosis. The assembly of travel distance-related groups (short, intermediate, long-distance) has been investigated. Moreover, group-related survival and recurrence analysis have been performed. RESULTS: In contrast to observations from overseas, no association of travel distance and higher cTNM status or UICC stage at primary diagnosis has been observed. Furthermore, no significant differences for recurrence-free survival and overall survival by travel distance were detected. CONCLUSION: In southern Germany, travel distance to head and neck cancer centers seems to be tolerable. Travel burden is not synonymous with travel distance alone but also involves sociodemographic, monetary, and disease-specific aspects as well as accessibility to proper infrastructure of transport and health care system.

[Immuno-, radio-, and chemotherapeutic studies in head and neck cancer : Highlights of the ASCO Annual Meeting 2017]. / Immun-, radio- und chemotherapeutische Studien bei Kopf-Hals-Tumoren : Highlights der ASCO-Jahrestagung 2017.

In recent years, immunotherapy has been shown to be a promising approach for the treatment of various tumor entities. Due to further pharmacological developments and new studies, the checkpoint inhibitors have now arrived in the clinic. To date, patients with cancers in the head and neck region have benefited from these agents as part of a palliative therapy. Current clinical trials are testing other indications for the checkpoint inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination with other therapeutic approaches. The following article summarizes the highlights of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

[Notochordal tumors : Benign notochordal tumors and chordomas]. / Notochordale Tumoren : Benigne notochordale Tumoren und Chordome.

Benign notochordal tumors (BNCT) and chordomas are primary bone tumors of the spine with a predominant localization in the sacrum and clival region followed by the vertebral bodies. Besides the most common variant (NOS [not otherwise specified] with hepatoid or renal carcinoma cell-like differentiation) chordomas with chondroid, and polymorphic to anaplastic morphology are described. An unfavorable variant are pediatric chordomas with a loss of INI-1. BNCT and chordomas are characterized by the following immunohistological profile: vimentin+, cytokeratin+/-, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA)+/-, S100 protein+/-, brachyury+. This profile helps to distinguish these tumors from other lesions such as chondrosarcoma, chordoid meningioma, and metastases of carcinoma.