Researchers ID potential prognostic marker for recurrence of head & neck squamous cell carcinoma

Molecular profiling may be useful for early diagnosis and treatment decisions, according to study published in the American Journal of Pathology

A new study provides the first evidence that the mediator complex subunit 15 (MED15) may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MED15 overexpression was found to be associated with higher mortality rates in HNSCC patients with cancer recurrence, particularly in oral cavity/oropharyngeal tumors, according to the study published in the American Journal of Pathology. MED15 overexpression was also associated with heavy alcohol consumption, which is an HNSCC risk factor.HNSCC is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and has a high rate of recurrence and early metastatic disease, resulting in approximately 350,000 deaths each year. “Our findings suggest that MED15 may serve as a prognostic marker for HNSCC recurrence and as a therapeutic target in HNSCC patients suffering from recurrences,” said lead investigator Sven Perner, MD, PhD, of the Department of Prostate Cancer Research, Institute of Pathology, and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University Hospital of Bonn (Germany).

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Morphine after tonsillectomy ‘potentially life-threatening’ for children

Painkilling medication is usually prescribed following most forms of surgery. However, the use of morphine to treat the post-operative pain of children having their tonsils removed could lead to potentially life-threatening respiratory problems, according to the findings of a new study.

The effects of morphine were so severe that the study’s Drug Safety Monitoring Board halted the study period early. In contrast, the study showed that ibuprofen could be used safely and effectively as an alternative.”These results should prompt clinicians to re-evaluate their post-tonsillectomy pain treatment regimen. Due to the unpredictable respiratory side-effects of morphine, its use as a first-line treatment with current dosage ranges should be discontinued for outpatient tonsillectomy,” says study co-author Dr. Doron Sommer.

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