Krishnasamy Nitya , Yash Merchant , Somdipto Das , Sameep S. Shetty
{"title":"Use of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) as a non-invasive adjunct for margin assessment in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)","authors":"Krishnasamy Nitya , Yash Merchant , Somdipto Das , Sameep S. Shetty","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The status of margins in OSCC is a critical prognostic factor that is known to influence local recurrence and overall survival outcomes. Positive or close surgical margins substantially increase the risk of locoregional failure, necessitating revision and adjuvant therapy that may adversely impact patients’ quality of life. Conventional intraoperative techniques of assessment of margins such as visual inspection, palpation, and selective frozen section analysis, have inherent limitations. These include subjectivity, sampling errors, and procedural delays. Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) is an innovative, non-contact, non-invasive optical imaging modality that enhances visualisation of the mucosal and submucosal microvasculature by employing filtered light at specific wavelengths. NBI enables more accurate delineation of tumour margins by accentuating vascular patterns associated with neoplastic transformation. This short correspondence discusses the fundamental principles, intraoperative applications, clinical advantages, and prospects of NBI as a valuable adjunct to conventional methods for margin assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100760"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comprehensive nutritional index: A novel prognostic and quality of life tool in nasopharyngeal carcinoma care","authors":"Sharfunnisa S.H.","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100763","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100763"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica Sonal Monteiro , Sowmya M. Kumar , Yash P. Merchant , Anand Ramanathan , José Alcides Almeida de Arruda , Eleni Georgakopoulou , Charles E. Anyanechi , Darshana Devadiga , Nitya Krishnasamy , Sameep Shetty
{"title":"Red flags of oral cancer: Unravelling the early symptoms – A literature review","authors":"Jessica Sonal Monteiro , Sowmya M. Kumar , Yash P. Merchant , Anand Ramanathan , José Alcides Almeida de Arruda , Eleni Georgakopoulou , Charles E. Anyanechi , Darshana Devadiga , Nitya Krishnasamy , Sameep Shetty","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a complex and insidious disease, often presenting with subtle symptoms that can be challenging to diagnose in its early stages. The oral cavity, comprising various heterogeneous subsites, poses a unique challenge in identifying malignant transformations due to its complex anatomy and the potential for asymptomatic presentations. The difficulty in distinguishing oral potentially malignant disorders or malignant lesions from benign ones through visual inspection alone highlights the need for heightened clinical vigilance. Despite the advances in medical knowledge and technology, oral cancer continues to have a poor prognosis when diagnosed at an advanced stage. This is partly due to the delayed recognition of early warning signs or “red flags,” which include persistent lesions, non-healing ulcers, unexplained lumps and other harbingers of disease. A comprehensive search of the existing literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases, focusing on studies and reviews related to the early detection and diagnosis of OSCC. The literature reveals a consistent theme: the early detection of OSCC depends on the clinician's meticulous attention to subtle lesions, increased patient awareness, and the screening of individuals at high risk. This review aims to elucidate the early symptoms of oral cancer, highlighting the critical red flags that should prompt immediate diagnostic workup. By improving the recognition of these early signs, we can potentially reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with oral cancer, ensuring better outcomes for patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100764"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Darren P. Reynolds , Samantha J. Tordesillas , Ashlie Denison , Abigail Legg
{"title":"Implementing an embedded psychology service within a multi-disciplinary community head and neck cancer team: preliminary service evaluation and clinical audit of referrals from the first two years","authors":"Darren P. Reynolds , Samantha J. Tordesillas , Ashlie Denison , Abigail Legg","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100761","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100761","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Community Head and Neck Team (CHANT) is an award winning multi-disciplinary team provided by Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients across South East London post-treatment for head and neck cancer. In 2022, CHANT was expanded to include a dedicated psychology service. This study aimed to audit all psychology referrals to date, evaluate patient reported outcome measures, and explore patient feedback to inform future service development.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective audit of head and neck cancer patients who were referred to the CHANT Psychology Service between September 2022 and February 2025 was conducted. Routine clinical outcomes were analysed at assessment and at discharge from the service, and additional qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted using patient feedback forms from those who completed therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 247 referrals were received (56.7 % male; mean age = 59.1 years). Primary reasons for referral included adjustment difficulties (44.1 %), low mood (28.7 %), and anxiety regarding health (18.6 %) amongst others. Statistically significant reductions in symptoms of low mood and anxiety, improved HRQoL, and reduced psychological inflexibility were observed. Patient feedback was overwhelmingly positive indicating psychological support was valued and beneficial.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>To our knowledge, the CHANT Psychology Service is the only dedicated community-based head and neck cancer psychology service in the UK. Audit and evaluation findings highlight the need for such a service and suggest it is both effective and acceptable in terms of its current service delivery. Ongoing data collection will support further evaluation and guide future development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100761"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144771563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oral care interventions for the prevention and management of anticancer therapy–induced oral mucositis: A systematic review","authors":"Zahra Farivar , Hamid Salehiniya , Leili Alizadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating complication of cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, increases healthcare costs, and can interrupt or delay cancer therapy. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various oral care interventions in the prevention and management of OM in patients undergoing anticancer treatments.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included clinical trials and cohort studies published between January 2000 and June 2025. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Out of 2542 records screened, 48 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 16 studies evaluated professional oral health care (POHC), 16 assessed chlorhexidine rinses, 6 focused on patient education, 6 examined sodium bicarbonate rinses, and 4 studied saline rinses. POHC and patient education consistently demonstrated beneficial effects, with over 75 % of studies in these categories reporting significant reductions in OM incidence and severity. Chlorhexidine and saline rinses showed mixed or limited results: only 38 % of chlorhexidine studies and 25 % of saline studies reported a measurable benefit. Risk of bias was rated as low to moderate in most studies, with 14 studies rated as high quality.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review highlights the effectiveness of structured oral care interventions particularly POHC and patient education in mitigating OM among cancer patients. These findings support the integration of evidence-based oral care protocols into routine oncology practice and emphasize the need for standardized clinical guidelines to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100759"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jan Horackiewicz , Matthew Donachie , Nichola Philp , Marta Chmielecka , Mohd Afiq Mohd Slim , Rhona Hurley , Catriona M. Douglas
{"title":"Prognostic significance of systemic inflammatory markers in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma","authors":"Jan Horackiewicz , Matthew Donachie , Nichola Philp , Marta Chmielecka , Mohd Afiq Mohd Slim , Rhona Hurley , Catriona M. Douglas","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rising and is increasingly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which makes up approximately 50 % of OPSCC cases in the UK. Patients presenting with HPV-positive OPSCC have better overall survival (OS) and prognosis. A significant proportion of these still have poor survival outcomes and identification of these patients remains a challenge. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of albumin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune inflammation index (SIII) for overall survival in OPSCC.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Seven hundred and twenty-eight patients were extracted from the West of Scotland Cancer Network database and met inclusion criteria with available blood markers at diagnosis. ROC curve analysis was constructed with respect to age, albumin and systemic inflammatory markers to determine diagnostic cut-offs, which were used to stratify subsequent Kaplan-Meier analyses. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out with respect to all baseline characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients with lowered albumin, LMR and raised NLR, PLR and SIII presented with poorer OS over time as well as median survival times. HPV-negative patients presented with significantly poorer survival outcomes as compared to HPV-positive. Only albumin ≥35.5 g/L (HR = 0.683, 95 %CI 0.538–0.868) and NLR≥4.0 (HR = 1.416, 95 %CI 1.031–1.946) were found to be independent prognostic factors in patients with OPSCC.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Serum albumin and NLR represent valuable predictors of survival in OPSCC regardless of HPV status. A universal, diagnostic NLR cut-off remains unknown. Systemic inflammatory markers may be a helpful adjunct when assessing patients during MDT.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100755"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Precision-directed therapy in salivary duct carcinoma","authors":"Shambhavi Singh , Irene George , Darshana Patil , Prashant Kumar , Rajan Datar , Vijay Haribhakti , Aditya Shreenivas , Sewanti Limaye","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salivary ductal carcinoma is a rare, aggressive salivary gland carcinoma with poor prognosis and high relapse rate. In recurrent metastatic cases, the median survival is only 5 months. Despite the treatment with multimodal therapeutic strategies, conventional treatments demonstrate a limited effect on long-term survival of the patients. In this study we report two cases of salivary ductal carcinoma patients managed with precision-directed, biomarker-guided therapeutic approaches. In the first case androgen receptor (AR) and HER2 positivity by immunohistochemistry analysis were detected. The patient was treated with AR directed targeted therapy enzalutamide and Leuprolide as maintenance therapy. Disease progression with an emergent HER2 expression by immunohistochemistry led to the inclusion of trastuzumab and pertuzumab. While in the second case the patient progressed on neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the subsequent molecular analysis revealed high expression of PD-L1 and was treated with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy. Follow up assessment revealed treatment durable responses and disease control in both the patients. These cases underscore the potential role of comprehensive molecular profiling-guided personalised therapeutic approaches in the management of advanced SDC patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100748"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comment on “Association between dental exams and diagnosis of head and neck cancer”","authors":"Palanivel Velmurugan, Vinayagam Mohanavel, Kanagasabapathy Sivasubramanian","doi":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100747","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.oor.2025.100747","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94378,"journal":{"name":"Oral Oncology Reports","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100747"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}