Showing papers by "Sven Saussez published in 2007"

Galectins as modulators of tumor progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) remain a significant cause of morbidity worldwide. Biological therapies able to induce and/or upregulate antitumor immune responses could represent a complementary approach to conventional treatments for patients with HNSCC because, despite advances in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the overall survival rates for these patients have not changed over recent decades. Galectins are involved in the control of cell proliferation, cell death, and cell migration and in the modulation of various functions of the immune system. In this context, galectin-1 is known to protect HNSCCs from the immune system. The present review details the involvement of galectins in HNSCC biology and suggests a number of approaches to reduce the levels of expression of galectin-1 in HNSCCs, with the aim of improving the efficiency of HNSCC immunotherapy.

High level of galectin-1 expression is a negative prognostic predictor of recurrence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

Abstract: Monitoring of gene-expression profiles is assumed to refine tumor characterization of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) with a therapeutic perspective. This is especially expected for adhesion/growth-regulatory effectors such as galectins, a class of endogenous lectins. Using computer-assisted microscopy, we investigated the prognostic value contributed by the quantitative determination of the immunohistochemical levels of expression of galectin-1, -3 and -7 in a series of 62 LSCCs including 42 low- and 20 high-stage LSCCs. As galectin-1 may have a key role leading to a tumor escape from immune surveillance, we also investigated whether or not the level of galectin-1 expression correlated with lymphocyte infiltration in LSCCs. The immunohistochemical determination of expression of galectin-1 is of prognostic value in human squamous laryngeal cancers. LSCCs that display high levels of galectin-1 have worse prognoses than laryngeal cancers with low levels of galectin-1 expression. Elevation of galectin-1 levels in laryngeal cancers can contribute to the process of tumor immune escape by killing the activated T-cells and other protumoral activities such as promoting motility or activity of oncogenic H-Ras proteins. The quantitative determination of galectin-1 in LSCCs is an independent prognostic marker when opposed to TNM staging. It has the potential to identify patients unlikely to benefit from T-cell-mediated immunotherapy, although the definitive effector function from its pro- and antitumoral activity profile has not been delineated.

Importance of clinical and radiological follow-up in head and neck cancers.

Abstract: Key-words. Head and neck cancer; follow-up; systematic ultrasonography; computed tomography Abstract. Importance of clinical and radiological follow-up in head and neck cancers. Problems/objectives: To evalu- ate the relevance of routine head and neck ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), chest X-ray, and standard clinical examination for the early detection of recurrences, second primary tumours, and distant metastases in the follow- up of patients treated for head and neck cancers. Methodology: Retrospective cohort study. Results: One hundred ninety-five patients were reviewed. Seventy-one recurrences appeared during the follow-up period. Five recurrences were diagnosed during head and neck US and CT. Sixty-four recurrences were diagnosed based on patients' complaints or standard clinical examination. Two lung malignancies were diagnosed during the annual chest X- ray. Conclusion: Systematic head and neck US and CT exams revealed recurrent cancers with poor efficiency and should be performed only after clinical suspicion of recurrence or second primary tumours. The value of an annual chest X-ray remains debatable. Routine clinical follow-up is clearly crucial for the detection of early recurrences and second primary tumours.