Laurindo Moacir Sassi

Expression and epigenetic regulation of DACT1 and DACT2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND DACT genes regulates Wnt as well TGF-β pathway, and were already associated with hepatocellular and lung cancer. Alterations on Wnt/β-catenin were associated with head and neck cancer through β-catenin cytoplasmatic accumulation. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate DACT1 and DACT2 expression and methylation on oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC). METHODS 47 samples of salivary rinse and tissue were collected from 29 OSCC and 18 control patients. qMSP and RT-PCR reactions were performed in order to detect hypermethylation and expression of DACT1 and DACT2 genes. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate these genes as possible biomarkers for OSCC. RESULTS As expected man over 60 years old with tobacco and alcohol consumption history were associated with OSCC. There was no statistical difference between groups concerning DACT1 and DACT2 either in promoter hypermethylation or transcript levels. Age was associated with DACT2 promoter hypermethylation, especially over 56 years old. CONCLUSION Patients older than 56 years old were about 5 times more likely to have DACT2 promoter hypermethylation. These findings could partially explain why older subjects are more prone to carcinogenesis. Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays an important role in carcinogenesis, and the study of their regulators may help understand malignant transformation.

Canalicular adenoma of the minor salivary gland in the upper lip: case report

Canalicular adenoma is a rare benign tumor of the minor salivary glands that is the most prevalent in older adults (mean age, 60 years). The upper lip is the most commonly affected site, followed by the buccal mucosa and palate. It presents as a nodular lesion without a tendency for recurrence. Here, we describe a case of canalicular adenoma presenting as a nodular, painful mass in the upper lip of a 62-year-old man with a history of trauma. Fine needle aspiration biopsy yielded inconclusive results but excluded malignancy. The lesion was enucleated, and a definitive diagnosis of canalicular adenoma was established by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. No signs of recurrence were noted at the 8-month follow-up examination. The case emphasizes the importance of differential diagnosis of nodular lesions in the oral mucosa for appropriate treatment and histological analysis for definitive diagnosis.

Significance of p16 Positive Expression in Oropharyngeal Cancers

BACKGROUND The involvement of HPV in oral and oropharyngeal carcinogenesis was first proposed in 2004, based on epithelial HPV tropism and detection of HPV genotypes in oral squamous cell carcinoma samples. While 60-70% of oropharynx tumors may be HPV-positive, only 10 to 19% of tumors of the oral cavity, larynx and hypopharynx appear to have HPV infection. The aim of the study was to evaluate HPV infection associated with oropharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-eight cases were selected for p16 immunoexpression reactions, and demographic data were collected for comparisons. RESULTS Most patients were over 60 years old, and 64.1% were smokers. Immunohistochemistry results showed that 86.3% of cases stained positive for p16 protein. CONCLUSION The oropharyngeal cancer profile at Erasto Gaertner Hospital presented a high index of smokers over 60 years as well a high number of p16+ tumors, for what we can not determinate the main etiologic factor, but can be aware of the number of patients that presented HPV infection. Since prevention is still the best way to deal with cancer disease, it is important to analyze the interaction of these two etiologic factors and how to detect lesions at an early stage.

Effect of fractionated radiotherapy on the parotid gland: an experimental study in Brazilian minipigs

Summary Introduction: Radiotherapy (RT) of head and neck neoplasms often damages the salivary glands. Aim: To examine the pattern of morphologic changes resulting from RT of the head and neck region in minipig parotid glands in a clinical and experimental research setting. Methods: Twelve 18-month-old male Brazilian minipigs weighing 30–40 kg were selected. Eight minipigs were assigned to the experimental group (group 1) and 4 to the control group (group 2). The RT was performed under general anesthesia at Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil, using an á/â ratio of 2.5. The minipigs from group 1 underwent 3 sessions of irradiation with Cobalt 60 of the head and neck, bilaterally, with 3 exposures of 8 Gy each at 7-day intervals for a total dose of 24 Gy. The animals were sacrificed 12 weeks post-RT. Results: The irradiated parotid glands displayed reductions in the size and number of acini as well as loss of secretory granules. The presence of fibrosis and loss of parenchyma relative to non-irradiated glands were observed, with an average reduction in volume of 54%. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that this model for parotid gland damage resulting from an RT regimen appears to be useful for preclinical large animal studies of RT-induced damage and testing novel potential treatment options. Although recent advances in radiation therapy, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, have reduced the dose and limited the field of radiation, considerable salivary gland injury still occurs and can greatly impact the patients quality of life after cancer treatment.

Incidence of second primary oral cancer tumors: a retrospective study

OBJETIVO: A maioria das neoplasias malignas de cabeca e pescoco e diagnosticada em estagios avancados. O alto risco de desenvolver um segundo tumor primario (STP) diminui a taxa de sobrevida dos pacientes. STP piora significativamente o prognostico e estudos sobre ele devem ser realizados para se descobrir seus fatores de risco e melhor forma de tratamento. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a ocorrencia de STP em pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide bucal (CEB) tratados no Hospital Erasto Gaertner (HEG), Curitiba, PRP, Brasil, num periodo de 16 anos. METODOLOGIA: Um estudo retrospectivo foi realizado a fim de revisar os pacientes com CEB que desenvolveram STP entre Janeiro de 1990 e Dezembro de 2005. Os dados demograficos e clinicos foram coletados atraves dos prontuarios medicos dos pacientes e foram analisados por estatistica descritiva. RESULTADOS: Neste periodo, 34.637 pacientes foram admitidos no HEG. Um total de 1637 (4,4%) pacientes recebeu diagnostico de CEB, dos quais 37 (2,7%) desenvolveram STP. Os pacientes que desenvolveram STP eram 29 (78,4%) homens e 8 (21,6%) mulheres, com media de idade de 58 anos. Os sitios anatomicos mais frequentes para o STP foram a boca, orofaringe e esofago; a taxa de sobrevivencia foi de 27%. CONCLUSAO: Pacientes tratados de CEB devem ser examinados cuidadosamente e monitorados regularmente por causa do alto risco de desenvolver um STP, especialmente aqueles que mantem os habitos de tabagismo e etilismo.

Accuracy, Sensitivity and Specificity of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy for Salivary Gland Tumors: A Retrospective Study from 2006 to 2011

Objective: This article concerns evaluation of the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNAB for pre-surgical diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions of major and minor salivary glands of patients treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Erasto Gartner Hospital. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed medical records from January 2006 to December 2011 from patients with salivary gland lesions who underwent preoperative FNAB and, after surgical excision of the lesion, histopathological examination. Results: The study had a cohort of 130 cases, but 34 cases (26.2%) were considered unsatisfactory regarding cytology analyses. Based on the data, sensitivity was 66.7% (6/9), specificity was 81.6% (71/87), accuracy was 80.2% (77/96), the positive predictive value was 66,7% (6/9) and the negative predictive value was 81.6% (71/87). Conclusion: Despite the high rate of inadequate samples obtained in the FNAB in this study the technique offers high specificity, accuracy and acceptable sensitivity.

Unusual presentation of oral amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a rare disease of difficult diagnosis that occurs due accumulation of amyloid substance localized or systemic. The oral cavity is an unusual site and can be related to both localized and systemic forms and for that reason a full investigation is necessary to determine the extent of the disease. This study reports a case of a 58-year-old melanoderm male patient referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with white plaques on the tongue and multiple nodules in the region of the buccal mucosa and labial commissure, with 6 months of evolution and painful symptoms. An incisional biopsy was performed on both sites and histological examination indicated the presence of eosinophilic amorphous material within the connective tissue, positive for crystal violet staining, consistent with amyloidosis. At the present time, there is no consensus on the management of local amyloidosis. Surgical treatment of localized forms is indicated in some cases to reduce the functional prejudice. Moreover, follow-up is mandatory, both to manage recurrences and to monitor the possible evolution of the disease to the systemic form.

Effect of radiotherapy on osseointegration of dental implants immediately placed in postextraction sites of minipigs mandibles.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the osseointegration and the survival of dental implants (DIs) immediately placed in postextraction sites, in mandibles of minipigs that underwent radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods: Twelve Brazilian minipigs were divided into the following groups: A, control; B, implants placement 15 days before RT; C, implants placement 3 months after RT. Implant loss rate (ILR), fibrointegration rate (FIR), bone-implant contact (BIC), and bone density inside the threads (BDIT) were determined in each group 90 days after implantation. Results: ILR was higher in group C (68.7%) than in groups B (28.1%) and A (21.9%), (P = 0.001). FIR was more frequent in group C (30%) than in groups B (21.7%) and A (4%), although not statistically significant. The averages of BIC and BDIT were, respectively, 33.1 and 41.5 in group C; 18.5 and 26.6 in group B; and 11.5 and 16.3 in group A (P = 0.003 for both variables). Conclusions: RT showed a negative effect in periimplant bone regeneration. The implants placement before RT showed better results compared with the implants performed after RT, suggesting that DIs in head and neck cancer patients must be placed before RT or simultaneously during ablative tumor surgery.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor: Rare Manifestation in Face

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, also known as inflammatory pseudotumor and plasma cell granuloma, is a tumor that occurs most often in the lungs, abdomen, skin, soft tissue, genital system, and mediastinal. Before surgery, the diagnosis is difficult to establish because of its diverse manifestations. In the head and neck, manifestation is rare and may occur in the upper respiratory tract, soft tissues, orbits, and skull base. This article aims to report a rare manifestation of the disease in the face, highlighting the importance of a correct diagnosis to determine the most appropriate form of treatment, in male patient, leucoderma, 22 years old, with complain of a painless unilateral growth in the left cheek, beginning 2 months before and with progressive growth.

Simultaneous Occurrence of Central Giant Cell Granuloma and Odontogenic Keratocyst in Mandible

Odontogenic keratocysts and central giant cell granulomas are distinct entities of separate origin that may appear simultaneously in the jaw, making them difficult to differentiate. The objectives of this paper are to report a case of a 54-year-old man presenting with a large lesion in the right mandible and to describe the histological characteristics of that lesion. Imaging revealed tumefaction and multilobulation. The case was surgically managed. Histopathological examination revealed that the lesion was a hybrid of an odontogenic keratocyst and a central giant cell granuloma. It remains unclear as to whether this lesion represented a coincidental or related injury. Since both types of lesion involved have a high rate of recurrence, however, long-term follow-up is scheduled.