KMT2 (MLL) family of methyltransferases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The involvement of the KMT2 methyltransferase family in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains elusive. METHOD: This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, employing a search strategy in the LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies involving 4294 individuals with HNSCC were included in this review. The most important alteration was the high mutational frequency in the KMT2C and KMT2D genes, with reported co-occurrence. The expression of the KMT2D gene exhibited considerable heterogeneity across the studies, while limited data was available for the remaining genes. CONCLUSIONS: KMT2C and KMT2D genes seem to have tumor suppressor activities, with involvement of cell cycle inhibitors, regulating different pathways that can lead to tumor progression, disease aggressiveness, and DNA damage accumulation.

Prevalence of dermatological toxicities in patients with melanoma undergoing immunotherapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized advanced melanoma care; however, their cutaneous side effects have not been definitively elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of cutaneous toxicity in patients with melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors as monotherapy and/or in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, which encompassed both clinical trials and observational studies describing the dermatological toxicities in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review under the number CRD42018091915. The searches were performed using the CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated with the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. RESULTS: A total of 9,802 articles were identified in the databases. The final sample comprised 39 studies. The evaluated drugs were ipilimumab, tremelimumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab. The results suggest that the most prevalent side effect was grade 1 and 2 pruritus (24%), followed by grade 1 and 2 rash (21%) and grade 1 and 2 vitiligo (10%). CONCLUSION: The most prevalent side effects in patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors are pruritus, rash, and vitiligo, and they are rated mostly as grades 1 and 2 adverse events. Remarkably, vitiligo is most commonly found in patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors.