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Background/Aim: Low pre-operative lymphocyteto-monocyte ratio (LMR) is associated with worse outcomes in several malignancies. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of LMR in tongue cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 103 patients with pathologically-proven tongue cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The peripheral LMR and the ratio of CD8-positive to CD14-positive (CD8 + /CD14 + ) tumor-infiltrating cells were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: There was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between low LMR and high LMR, and low CD8 + /CD14 + tumor-infiltrating cells and high CD8 + /CD14 + tumor infiltrating cells. For the clinical analysis, multivariate analysis showed that clinical ocular inspection type and low LMR were independent predictors for poor OS. Concerning the immunohistochemical analysis, monocyte count was independent predictor of poor OS. Conclusion: Pre-operative LMR and CD8 + /CD14 + tumor-infiltrating cells serve as independent prognostic biomarkers.

High expression of the 110 kDa catalytic subunit of the class IA PI3K (PI3Kp110α) may play an important role in cetuximab resistance exhibited by both colorectal cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the association between the expression of proteins in the PI3Kp110α pathway and cetuximab resistance, and the antitumor effects of alpelisib (PI3K inhibitor) and cetuximab in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. The association between PI3Kp110α protein expression levels and the tumor response to cetuximab was determined using immunohistochemistry. OSCC cells were treated with alpelisib, cetuximab, or in combination, and the effects were examined in vitro and in vivo. PI3Kp110α protein expression was significantly associated with the tumor response to cetuximab (P<0.05) and 1-year progression-free survival and overall survival (P<0.05). Combined treatment of alpelisib and cetuximab resulted in enhanced antitumor effects in vitro compared with either agent administered alone. In particular, the expression level of N-cadherin, an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related protein, was decreased, suggesting that the invasion potential of cetuximab-resistant cells decreased. Furthermore, the expression of proteins in the PI3K pathway were decreased in tumors from mice with OSCC xenografts treated with alpelisib and cetuximab in combination. These results indicate that novel regimens of systemic therapy (such as chemotherapy), with combinations of cetuximab and alpelisib, may be beneficial for patients with cetuximab-resistant OSCC.

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Background/Aim: Postresective mandibular reconstruction is common in cases of oral and mandibular tumors. However, complications such as plate fracture and/or plate exposure can occur. The purpose of this study was to analyze complications and survival of reconstructive plates used to correct mandibular defects caused by oral cancer. Patients and Methods: Clinical and radiological data from 34 patients were analyzed. Only discontinuous mandibular defect cases were included in this study. All cases were classified using the Hashikawa's CAT and Eichner's classification methods. Then, we determined whether these classifications and clinical treatment methods were significantly related to complications. Results: Complications after mandibular reconstruction occurred in 10 of 34 patients, specifically, two plate fractures, one screw fracture, and seven plate exposures occurred. The plate fractures occurred 5 and 6 months after operation, and the screw fracture occurred 39 months after operation. Using the Hashikawa's CAT classification, the two cases of plate fracture were one of AT type and the other of T type, and the screw fracture was AT type. Using Eichner's classification, all three cases of plate and screw fractures were B2 type. Conclusion: We suggest that plate and screw fractures were caused by the type of mandibular defect and bite force.

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Three-dimensional imaging in the management of EMTM can be beneficial in identifying position of the tooth, associated pathology, and identifying the position of neurovascular structures to aid in removal of the ectopic tooth.

Radical esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer is invasive and frequently results in postoperative pulmonary complications. Postoperative pneumonia is the most common such complication and affects hospital mortality and survival rates. Oral care has been very effective in reducing pneumonia. In Japan, preoperative professional oral care is highly recommended. However, there are few studies on the effect of preoperative improvements in oral hygiene as a result of intervention on the incidence of postoperative pneumonia. The primary end-point of this retrospective study was the incidence of postoperative pneumonia after radical esophagectomy. The oral health levels of 46 patients were individually categorized, and then patients were grouped according to whether they maintained or improved their oral hygiene. At the first dental examination, oral health levels were classified as good in 22 patients and bad in 24. Of the 46 patients studied, 39 patients maintained or improved their oral hygiene (good control group), whereas 7 showed no improvement (bad control group). Postoperative pneumonia occurred in eight patients: four in the good control group and four in the bad control group. Statistical analysis with postoperative pneumonia as a dependent variable showed a significant effect of oral hygiene improvement on the incidence of pneumonia. Logistic regression analysis with this factor as an independent variable demonstrated that the risk of postoperative pneumonia was reduced in the good control group (OR 0.086, 95% CI 0.014-0.529). Therefore, preoperative professional oral care may improve oral hygiene and oral health, which may in turn reduce the incidence of postoperative pneumonia. (