Navin Vig

Publish or perish A survey of abstracts accepted for meetings of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and subsequently published

Publications are important for all surgeons, including those practising oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). The results of relevant research are usually presented at the annual scientific meetings of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS). The aim of this study was to find out how many abstracts that were accepted for presentation at the BAOMS go on to be published. Lists of abstracts accepted at BAOMS meetings 2002-2006 were obtained, and a thorough search was made for each article using the web-based search engine PubMed. Related publications were recorded. A total of 623 abstracts were accepted, of which only 147 (24%) resulted in peer-reviewed publication. Compared with clinical studies, scientific research was in the minority, but was more likely to appear in print and in journals with higher impact factors. Units with senior academic input had better records of publication. Currently only a small fraction of studies deemed worthy of presentation at the BAOMS become publications. This conversion from presentation to print is facilitated by strong academic support. Exposing trainees in OMFS training posts to basic research training might improve their ability to publish.

Phenotypic plasticity and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the behaviour and therapeutic response of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

It is increasingly recognised that phenotypic plasticity, apparently driven by epigenetic mechanisms, plays a key role in tumour behaviour and markedly influences the important processes of therapeutic survival and metastasis. An important source of plasticity in malignancy is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a common epigenetically controlled event that results in transition of malignant cells between different phenotypic states that confer motility and enhance survival. In this review, we discuss the importance of phenotypic plasticity and its contribution to cellular heterogeneity in oral squamous cell carcinoma with emphasis on aspects of drug resistance and EMT.

Investigation of the properties of the amoeboid cell, a new cell type in oral cancer

Abstract Background Cancer cell plasticity, as seen in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, can lead to metastasis and therapeutic failure. Another cell type, the amoeboid, has now been isolated in oral cancer. Previously seen in, but not isolated from melanomas and sarcomas, it has been associated with poorer prognosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the amoeboid cell in oral cancer, with the hypothesis that it is a plastic, but more invasive and chemoresistant, cell type. Methods In this in-vitro study of oral cancer cell lines (n=6), fresh tumour specimens, and mice, we used high-throughput invasion assays, migration and drug response assays, protein and gene expression profiling, mechanistic and pathway analysis, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, gene knockdowns, and immunostaining. At least three cell lines were used for each laboratory technique, with a minimum of triplicate repeats and appropriate statistical analysis. Findings In all cell lines, amoeboid cells were smaller than both epithelial and mesenchymal cells (median cell area 295 μm 2 [IQR 218–399] vs 884 [573–1281] vs 598 [413–815]) but were significantly more migratory with a mean velocity of 1·1 μm/min (SD 0·2) versus 0·16 (0·08) for mesenchymal cells (p Interpretation We describe a new amoeboid cell phenotype, which is derived from epithelial cancer cells, that might confer upon carcinomas a greater ability to invade, disseminate, and resist therapy. A switch to an amoeboid phenotype could be a useful escape strategy for cancers, providing them with alternative modes for migration and invasion. However, this cell type essentially lacks keratin, which could complicate histopathological assessment of tumour spread. Pathway elucidation might yield new potential amoeboid targets. Targeting amoeboid cells, which may now become possible with their isolation and analysis, could be essential to improve patient outcomes. Funding Royal College of Surgeons of England, British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Facial Surgery Research Foundation, Faculty of Dental Surgeons (Royal College of Surgeons of England).