Current Cancer Therapy Reviews - Volume 11, Issue 1, 2015

Human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma (HPV-OPC) is increasing in many countries. It has distinct microscopic and molecular features as well as clinical aspects. As for microscopic view, two subtypes, non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (NKSCC) and hybrid SCC (HSCC), 3 variants of SCC, undifferentiated carcinoma (UC), basaloid carcinoma (BC), and papillary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC Read More

The basic anatomical and oncological properties of oropharyngeal cancer with appropriate radiological images are presented. The description is mainly divided into two categories; primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes. Each of the categories is discussed in terms of the anatomy, oncology and current radiological imaging with emerging methods, such as FDG PET/CT and MRI diffusion imaging. Some interesting cas Read More

Due to the progressive decline in smoking and drinking, incidences of head and neck cancers have decreased markedly in the USA and European countries. However, incidences of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) are rising worldwide in both nonsmokers and nondrinkers. Epidemiologic studies suggest a strong association between human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 infection, changing sexual behavior and cancer development. Whi Read More

In a recent years, oropharyngeal carcinoma has continued to gradually increase throughout the world due to the prevalence of Human papillomavirus(HPV)-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma.Traditionally, the standard form of treatment employed was an open surgical procedure combining mandibulectomy with a free flap graft. However, many reports indicate that this procedure can result in a high degree of pos Read More

Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) was reported as being one of the most minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures available by the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. TORS has increasingly been employed in the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma throughout the world on account of the various advantages including superior surgical manipulation of the oropharyngeal tissue, excellent visualization and accurate resection. Read More

In recent years, cases of HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinomas (HPVOPCs) have continued to increase throughout world. In many cases, radiotherapy is conducted as HPVOPCs are considered to be more radiosensitive than HPV-negative tumors. However, smoking affects the radiosensitivity of HPVOPCs which typically results in a poorer prognosis than can be expected when treating HPVOPCs associated with n Read More

The controversial point of treatment for oropharyngeal cancer is the surgical approach and it is in transition, especially for resectable tumors. Transcervical oropharyngectomy with mandibulotomy is an oncologically valid surgical option for resectable T3–T4a oropharyngeal cancers and contraindications for transoral lateral oropharyngectomy. The approach without mandibulotomy allows for simple reconstruction and ha Read More

Glioblastoma is the most common adult malignant primary brain tumor, and carries a dismal prognosis. After initial standard radiation therapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, few standard chemotherapy options are available. In the last two decades, a growing understanding of molecular pathogenesis of glioblastoma has turned our focus toward targeted therapy. This review will discuss our current understandin Read More

Oncogenic transformation of growth factors, growth factor receptors, transcription factors as well as important cellular proteins and their association with the principal tumor suppressor p53 may provide essential insights toward integrated therapy in breast cancer. In this review we discuss growth factor HER-2/neu receptor tyrosine kinase; FAK, non-receptor tyrosine kinase; TGF-β, and their roles in tumorigenesis in b Read More