Identifying Comprehensive Genomic Alterations and Potential Neoantigens for Cervical Cancer Immunotherapy in a Cohort of Chinese Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Objective Genomic alterations and potential neoantigens for cervical cancer immunotherapy were identified in a cohort of Chinese patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC).Methods Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify genomic alterations and potential neoantigens for CSCC immunotherapy.RNA Sequencing was performed to analyze neoantigen expression.Results Systematic bioinformatics analysis showed that C>T/G>A transitions/transversions were dominant in CSCCs.Missense mutations were the most frequent types of somatic mutation in the coding sequence regions.Mutational signature analysis detected signature 2,signature 6,and signature 7 in CSCC samples.PIK3CA,FBXW7,and BICRA were identified as potential driver genes,with BICRA as a newly reported gene.Genomic variation profiling identified 4,960 potential neoantigens,of which 114 were listed in two neoantigen-related databases.Conclusion The present findings contribute to our understanding of the genomic characteristics of CSCC and provide a foundation for the development of new biotechnology methods for individualized immunotherapy in CSCC.

Mechanisms of Sophora flavescens in the treatment of cervical squamous cell carcinoma based on comprehensive biological analysis,network pharmacology,and experimental verification

Objective:This study used comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology analysis to investigate the potentially relevant mechanisms of Sophora flavescens against cervical squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:Consistently altered genes involved in cervical squamous cell cancerization were analyzed in the GEO database.The chemical ingredients and target genes of Sophora flavescens were explored using the TCMSP database.We obtained the potential therapeutic targets of Sophora flavescens by intersecting the above genesets and validated them in the GEPIA database.The interaction between Sophora flavescens and target genes was predicted by molecular docking.RT-qPCR was used to verify the changes of target genes in HeLa cells treated with Sophora flavescens.Single-gene GSEA functional analysis were performed to determine the molecular mechanisms.Results:Fifteen genes related to the transformation of cervical squamous cell carcinoma were identified,among which AR and ESR1 were confirmed as targets for kaempferol,wighteone,formononetin,and phaseolinon.These compounds are the active ingredients in Sophora flavescens.Low expressions of AR and ESR1 correlate with a poor prognosis,while Sophora flavescens treatment increases the expression of AR and ESR1 in HeLa.GSEA analysis showed that AR and ESR1 mainly participate in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusion:Sophora flavescens exert anti-tumor effects by targeting AR and ESR1,which may regulate cancer metastasis.

Expression of CDC42 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics

Objective： The high expression of cell division cycle 42 protein （CDC42） may be involved in the occurrence and progression of several tumors. However, the expression and function of CDC42 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression of CDC42 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics. Methods： The expression of CDC42 in 162 cervical squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples and 33 normal cervical tissue samples was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The CDC42 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Results： The cervical squamous cell carcinoma group showed a significantly higher CDC42 positive rate, compared to the normal cervical tissues （P〈0.05）. Fttrthermore, the tissues of stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ carcinoma patients showed higher CDC42 expression levels compared to stage I patients （P=0.05）. In addition, the expression of CDC42 was not correlated to age of patients, differentiation degree of cancer cells, or lymph node metastasis （P〉0.05）. Furthermore, compare with normal cervical tissues, the CDC42 mRNA expression in cervical cancer had no significant difference. Conclusions： CDC42 was up-regulated at protein level, but not mRNA level, in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The high expression of CDC42 was correlated to the clinical stage of the patients, indicating that CDC42 might contribute to the progression of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Coexistence of cervical extramedullary plasmacytoma and squamous cell carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Extramedullary plasmacytoma(EMP),a variant form of myeloma,is a rare solid plasma cell tumor that originates from the bone marrow hematopoietic tissue and accounts for about 3%of all plasma cell tumors.EMP can affect various tissues and organs,about 90%of which is found in the head and neck.However,EMP in the reproductive organs is rare,and is difficult to be distinguished from other primary or metastatic genital tumors according to clinical symptoms and imaging findings.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report a case with coexistence of EMP and squamous cell carcinoma in the cervix.The first histopathological report of neoplasms on the surface of the cervix and vagina showed an EMP.Both ultrasound and pelvic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)indicated that there was a tumor in the cervix.Thus,another cervical biopsy and pathological examination were performed,which indicated EMP combined with squamous cell carcinoma.Then,the patient underwent extensive total hysterectomy(type C1)+systemic lymph node dissection and received 25 external pelvic irradiations with a dose of 50 Gy following surgery.During 2-year follow-up,no recurrence was reported.CONCLUSION In conclusion,EMP involving the reproductive system is relatively rare.In this case,MRI,B-ultrasound,and cervical canal scraping were used to further determine the diagnosis of EMP combined with squamous cell carcinoma.The patient had improved prognosis after appropriate treatments.

Endu combined with concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for stage IIB-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND In recent years,the incidence of cervical cancer has increased with increasing life pressures and changes in women's social roles,posing a serious threat to women's physical and mental health.AIM To explore the clinical effect of Endo combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma.METHODS A total of 120 patients admitted to the oncology department of our hospital were selected as the research subjects.They were equally divided into the test group and the control group(60 patients each)with a random number table.The test group was treated with Endo combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy,and the control group was treated with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy.We compared the serum thymidine kinase 1(TK1),human epididymis protein 4(HE4),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen(SCC-Ag)levels,the clinical effects and survival before and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy,the quality score,and the 3-year follow-up outcomes between the two groups.RESULTS After chemotherapy,the complete remission+partial remission rate was 85.00%in the test group and 68.33%in the control group;the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Before chemotherapy,the serum TK1,HE4,VEGF,and SCC-Ag levels of the two groups were not significantly different(P>0.05).After chemotherapy,the levels of serum TK1(1.27±0.40 pmol/L),HE4(81.4±24.0 pmol/L),VEGF(235.1±38.0 pg/mL),and SCC-Ag(1.76±0.55 ng/mL)were lower than those in the control group[TK1(1.58±0.51 pmol/L),HE4(98.0±28.6)pmol/L,VEGF(284.2±54.1 pg/mL),and SCC-Ag(2.34±0.78 ng/mL)].The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Before chemotherapy,there were no significant differences in the physical,role,mood,cognition,social and symptom scale scores of the two groups(P>0.05).After chemotherapy,the physical,role,mood,cognitive and social scores were higher in the test group than in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The symptom scale scores of the test group were all lower than those of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The 3-year progression-free survival(PFS)rate was 43.33%in the test group and 26.67%in the control group;the overall survival(OS)rate was 48.33%in the test group and 33.33%in the control group;the differences were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The 3-year PFS time of the test group was 20.0 mo,which was longer than that of the control group(15.0 mo),and the difference was significant(P<0.05).The OS time of the test group was 30.0 mo,which was longer than that of the control group(18.0 mo),and the difference was significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Endo combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma has a positive effect on reducing the level of tumor markers in patients,prolonging the PFS and OS times of patients,and improving the quality of life.

THE OVEREXPRESSION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CYCLIN D1 AND P53 IN CERVICAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS

Objective To investigate the significance of overexpresson of cyclin D1 and P53 protein in cervical squamous cell carcinomas.Methods Fifty cases of invasive cervical squamous cell carcinomas and 10 cases of normal cervical squamous epithelia were investigated with immunihistochemical technique. Results The overexpression of cyclin D1 and P53 in invasive cervical carcinomas was 70% and 50%, respectively. There was no overexpression of them in the control group. The overexpression of cyclin D1 in grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ was much higher than that in gradeⅠ(P<0.05). The overexpresson of cyclin D1 in stage Ⅲ of cervical carcinoma was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅱ (P<0.05). The overexpression of P53 in grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ of cervical carcinoma was remarkably higher than that in grade Ⅰ (P<0.05).Conclusion The action point of both cyclin D1 and P53 may be at G1/S transition. The overexpression of them was associated with development and progression of cervical carcinoma probably in different mechanisms and different pathways.

Co-existing squamous cell carcinoma and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia with ASXL1 and EZH2 gene mutations:A case report

BACKGROUND Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia(CMML),a rare clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasms,has a generally poor prognosis,and easily progresses to acute myeloid leukemia.The simultaneous incidence of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors is extremely low,and CMML coinciding with lung malignancies is even rarer.Here,we report a case of CMML,with ASXL1 and EZH2 gene mutations,combined with non-small cell lung cancer(lung squamous cell carcinoma).CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old male,suffering from toothache accompanied by coughing,sputum,and bloody sputum for three months,was given a blood test after experiencing continuous bleeding resulting from a tooth extraction at a local hospital.Based on morphological results,the patient was diagnosed with CMML and bronchoscopy was performed in situ to confirm the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in the lower lobe of the lung.After receiving azacitidine,programmed cell death protein 1,and platinum-based chemotherapy drugs,the patient developed severe myelosuppression and eventually fatal leukocyte stasis and dyspnea.CONCLUSION During the treatment and observation of CMML and be vigilant of the growth of multiple primary malignant tumors.

Nomograms based on HPV load for predicting survival in cervical squamous cell carcinoma: An observational study with a longterm follow-up

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment human papillomavirus(HPV) viral load for cervical cancer, and to develop nomograms based on HPV load and other clinicopathological factors for long-term survival.Methods: We conducted a prospective study on cervical squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) patients diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2008. Cervical samples were tested for HPV viral load by the Hybrid Capture II(HCII) assay before treatment and 6 months after treatment. Clinical characteristics and follow-up information were also collected. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust covariates in both the radical hysterectomy(RH) treatment group and concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT) treatment group to identify relevant covariates, and then nomograms were constructed and used for internal validation.Results: A total of 520 SCC patients enrolled in this study with a median follow-up of 127 months, 360 patients received RH, whereas 160 patients received CCRT. The median HPV viral load in RH and CCRT groups was356.10 and 294.29, respectively. Tumor size was positively correlated with high pretreatment HPV load in both groups. In CCRT group, the advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO) stage and enlarged retroperitoneal lymph node status determined by computed tomography(LNSCT) were correlated with low HPV load group. Initial HPV viral load, FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis were prognostic factors for RH group, whereas HPV viral load, squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC-Ag) level and LNSCT were identified as prognostic factors for CCRT group. Nomograms incorporating these predictors for 10-year progression-free survival(PFS) were constructed [concordance index(C-index): 0.756, 0.749].Conclusions: A low pretreatment HPV viral load is an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis of cervical SCC and is related to other clinicopathological factors. The survival nomogram based on HPV viral load could predict the long-term prognosis.

Expression of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α and Its Relationship to Apoptosis and Proliferation in Human Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Summary: To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and its relationship to apoptosis and proliferation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and PCNA. Tunnel technique was used to detect in situ cell apoptosis in LSCC. Our results showed that the expression of HIF-1α was related to the clinical stages of cancer and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The relationship between HIF-1α and PCNA was statistically significant (P<0.05) and no relationship was found between HIF-1α and apoptosis (P>0.05) It is concluded that HIF-1α plays a role in the carcinogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma and is correlated with proliferation, but bears no relationship with the apoptosis of tumor cells in LSCC.

Endometrial squamous cell carcinoma originating from the cervix: A case report

BACKGROUND Cervical squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)is the most common type of cervical carcinoma and is generally derived from a precancerous stage called cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL).Usually,the cancer metastasizes through lymphatic or hematogenous dissemination,but rarely spreads upward into the uterus.Here,we report a case of cervical HSIL extending into the endometrium and finally progressing to SCC in the uterine cavity.CASE SUMMARY A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman visited our department and requested a routine cervical check-up.Four years ago,she had undergone a cervical loop electrosurgical excision procedure because of HSIL found during the gynecological examination,and she had not been checked again since.This time,a relapse of the cervical HSIL was diagnosed along with uterine pyometra and endometrial polyps.After 2 wk of antibiotic treatment,a laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed,and the final pathological examination revealed that the cervical HSIL had spread directly upward into the uterine cavity,gradually developing into cervical SCC in the endometrium.CONCLUSION Cervical HSIL/SCC can directly spread upward into the uterus with the most common symptoms of pyometra and cervical stenosis.More attention should be given to the early detection and prevention of this disease.

Narrow-band imaging without magnification for detecting early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM：To compare narrow-band imaging（NBI）without image magnification,and chromoendoscopy with Lugol＇s solution for detecting high-grade dysplasia and intramu-cosal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma（SCC）in patients with head and neck cancer.METHODS：This was a prospective observational study of 129 patients with primary head and neck tumors consecutively referred to the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit of Hospital das Clínicas,Sao Paulo University Medical School,Brazil,between August 2006 and Feb-ruary 2007.Conventional examinations with NBI and Lugol chromoendoscopy were consecutively performed,and the discovered lesions were mapped,recorded and sent for biopsy.The results of the three methods were compared regarding sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,positive likelihood value and negative likelihood value.RESULTS：Of the 129 patients,nine（7%）were diag-nosed with SCC,5 of which were in situ and 4 which were intramucosal.All carcinomas were detected through NBI and Lugol chromoendoscopy.Only 4 le-sions were diagnosed through conventional examination,all of which were larger than 10 mm.CONCLUSION：NBI technology with optical filters has high sensitivity and high negative predictive value for detecting superficial esophageal SCC,and produces results comparable to those obtained with 2.5%Lugol chromoendoscopy.

Colonic metastasis after resection of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lung:A case report and literature review

Lung cancer is a common malignancy in the world; however symptomatic colonic metastasis from primary lung cancer is rare. A 64-year-old man was originally found poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of right lung and received right lower lobectomy and lymph node dissection. Three years later, the patient presented to our emergency room with the symptom of upper abdominal pain and weight loss. Abdominal palpation and computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a large mass measuring 7.6 cm &#x000d7; 8.5 cm in the ascending colon. Colonoscopy and biopsy revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with similar morphological pattern to that of the previous lung cancer. Chemotherapy was given and the patient died 5 mo later. Lung cancer metastatic to the colon confers a poor prognosis: overall survival ranged from 5 wk to 1 year, with a median survival of 3 mo after the diagnosis of the colonic metastasis.

Giant squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder: A case report

BACKGROUND Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract. The majority of cases are adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is the histological type present in 12% of all neoplasias accounting for approximately 12% of gallbladder neoplasms. It can occur in its pure form reaching 1%-3% of the tumors. Many patients are at an advanced stage when diagnosed and have bad therapeutic efficacy. CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old male patient presented with left flank pain for 1 year and irradiated to the mesogastric region. He denied fever, vomiting, and any other intestinal changes. He reported a weight loss of 10 kg in a period of 7 mo. He denied alcoholism, smoking, drug use, or prior illness. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed in the gallbladder fossa a voluminous mesogastric heterogeneous collection that had a thick and irregular capsule with liquid and gaseous contents. A predominantly hypoattenuating rounded material with partially calcified margins measuring about 2.0 cm related to gallstone was also emphasized. No lymphadenomegalies or free fluid was observed in the abdominal cavity. Patient underwent laparotomy where a huge tumor was observed affecting the transverse colon and gallbladder. This mass was resected en bloc removing gallbladder and transverse colon together with corresponding mesocolon and regional lymphadenectomy. There were no complications in the postoperative period. Although oncological treatment was performed, the patient died 6 mo after surgery. CONCLUSION Squamous cell carcinoma represents a rare disease. Patients often present with large, bulky tumors with involvement of adjacent organs. In spite of progress in surgical techniques and adjuvant chemotherapy, the prognosis remains poor.

GSTM1,GSTT1,GSTP1 and CYP1A1 genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to esophageal cancer in a French population:Different pattern of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

AIM:To evaluate the association between CYP1A1 and GSTs genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)and esophageal adenocarcinoma(ADC)in a high risk area of northwest of France. METHODS:A case-control study was conducted to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of these enzymes (CYPIAI*2C and GSTP1 exon 7 Val alleles,GSTMI*2/*2 and GSTTl *2/*2 null genotypes).A total of 79 esophageal cancer cases and 130 controls were recruited. RESULTS:GSTMI*2/*2 and CYPIAI*IA/*2C genotype frequencies were higher among squamous cell carcinomas at a level dose to statistical significance(OR =1.83,95% CI 0.88-3.83,P=0.11;OR=3.03,95% CI 0.93-9.90,P=0.07, respectively).For GSTP1 polymorphism,no difference was found between controls and cases,whatever their histological status.Lower frequency of GSTT1 deletion was observed in ADC group compared to controls with a statistically significant difference(OR=13.31,95% CI 1.66-106.92,P<0.01). CONCLUSION:In SCC,our results are consistent with the strong association of this kind of tumour with tobacco exposure.In ADC,our results suggest 3 distinct hypotheses: (1)activation of exogenous procarcinogens,such as small halogenated compounds by GSTT1;(2)contribution of GSTT1 to the inflammatory response of esophageal mucosa,which is known to be a strong risk factor for ADC, possibly through leukotriene synthesis;(3)higher sensitivity to the inflammatory process associated with intracellular depletion of glutathione.

Personalized targeted therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma continues to heavily burden clinicians worldwide. Researchers have discovered the genomic landscape of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which holds promise for an era of personalized oncology care. One of the most pressing problems facing this issue is to improve the understanding of the newly available genomic data, and identify the driver-gene mutations, pathways, and networks. The emergence of a legion of novel targeted agents has generated much hope and hype regarding more potent treatment regimens, but the accuracy of drug selection is still arguable. Other problems, such as cancer heterogeneity, drug resistance, exceptional responders, and side effects, have to be surmounted. Evolving topics in personalized oncology, such as interpretation of genomics data, issues in targeted therapy, research approaches for targeted therapy, and future perspectives, will be discussed in this editorial.

Prognostic Value of Ki67 and VE6F Expression in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prognostic value of measuring Ki67 and VEGF expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS The expression of Ki67 and VEGF in 32 LSCC tissues was studied by immunohistochemical staining. Of these cases, 5 recurred (recurrent group), 3 cases metastasized (metastatic group), 8 cases died (deceased group) and 24 cased survived (survival group) over a 3 year period of follow-up after their operation. RESULTS The expression of Ki67 and VEGF in the deceased group was higher compared to that in the survival group (P<0.01). Overexpression of Ki67 was found in the recurrent group and in the metastatic group (P< 0.05). VEGF expression was higher in the recurrent group than in the non recurrent group (P<0.05). With Cox-regression of multivariate analysis, Ki67 (RR:3.236; P=0.001), the clinical T stage (RR: 1.382; P=0.029) and metastasis in lymph nodes (RR:0.316; P=0.033) were shown to be independent prognostic factors for survival of LSCC patients. CONCLUSION Ki67 and VEGF expression is related to the prognosis of LSCC. Overexpression of the 2 markers indicated poor prognosis of the disease, a finding which might be helpful for the treatment of laryngocar-cinoma.

Complete pathologic response after chemoradiotherapy in a patient with rectal squamous cell carcinoma： a case report

Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)of the rectum is a rare disease.A 59-year-old man presented with SCC of the middle rectum located 10 cm from the anus.The stage of the tumor was revealed to be T3N+M0.The patient received a combined treatment with cisplatin and fluorouracil in concomitance with external radiation therapy.He then underwent an anterior resection of the rectum.The postoperative histopathological findings classified the tumor as yp T0N0 with cancer-free margins and lymph nodes.Treatment of SCC remains very challenging,and the acquisition of more consistent data is needed.

Analysis of 30 patients with persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix within one year after concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Objective： To investigate the recurrence sites, risk factors, and prognosis of＇patients with persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma （SCC） of the cervix within one year after undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy （CCRT）. Methods： Clinical data of 30 patients with persistent or recurrent SCC of the cervix within one year after CCRT between July 2006 and July 2011 were analyzed retrospectively： These data were compared with those of 35 SCC cases with no signs of recurrence after complete remission. These 35 patients were treated during the same period （between 2,006 and Z011） and selected randomly. Results： Among these 30 patients, 25 exhibited distant metastases of which 14 were observed within 6 months after CCRT. Univariate analysis showed higher incidence of pelvic or para-aortic lymphadenectasis and SCC-ag 〉 10 ng/mL in the group with persistent or recurrent disease before treatment （P〈0.01）. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression revealed that the pre-therapeutic pelvic or para-aortic lymph node enlargement and SCC-ag 〉 10 ng/mL were the independent risk factors. Palliative chemotherapy was the main treatment option for patients with persistent or recurrent disease. The 2-year survival rate was 21.7%, and the median survival time was 17 months. Conclusion： Patients with persistent or recurrent SCC of the cervix after CCRT exhibited a high rate of distant metastasis with poor prognosis. The pre-therapeutic pelvic or para-aortic lymph node enlargement and SCC-ag 〉10 ng/mL were identified as the independent risk factors for persistent or recurrent SCC within i year after CCRT.

Small Intestinal Perforation Caused by Metastasis from Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Scalp --One Case Report

The small bowel metastases from head and neck regions are extremely rare. The diagnosis and treatment of such kind of small bowel metastases remain unclear. This paper reports on a 53-year-old case with small intestine perforation caused by metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of scalp. After surgical treatment, the patient had a relatively better survival. This paper shares the clinical experience we have learned from managing this patient in hope that it will help other medical professionals in oncology to recognize the disease.

Sentinel Node in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Trunk and Extremities: Experience in a Latin American Reference Center

This paper aims to assess the use of the sentinel node technique in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the trunk and extremities in a Latin American oncology reference center. The descriptive retrospective cohort study included 60 patients diagnosed with SCC of the trunk and extremities, submitted to surgical treatment of the primary tumor and sentinel node biopsy at the breast and soft tissue tumor services of the National Institute of Cancerology (Bogotá, Colombia) over a period of 6 years. The sentinel node was identified in 96.6% (58/60) of the patients. The sentinel node pathology report was negative in 81.7% (49), positive in 15% (9). There were no complications due to the procedure in 85% of the patients. The mean recurrence-free survival time was 8.3 months (CI 95% 5.0 to 11.5 months) in patients with positive sentinel node and 58.6 months (CI 95% 47.8 to 69.3 months) in patients with negative results. Only 4 of 49 patients (8.1%) with negative sentinel node had regional relapse. The study evidenced that the sentinel node technique in patients with high-risk SCC of the trunk and extremities is an adequate staging tool for the lymph node chain, with a low rate of associated complications. This opens an interesting opportunity for prospective cohort studies that can demonstrate statistically significant differences.