[The multicenter registry "oropharyngeal cancer" of the German ENT Study Center - First Results].
The number of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) has increased significantly in recent years. However, no robust data exist on the incidence of HPV-associated OPSCC as well as their treatment in central Europe.
The aim is to establish an epidemiological register of patients with OPSCC in central Europe.
To close the evidence gap on p16-positive OPSCC, a prospective multicenter registry on incidence, risk factors and treatment of OPSCC in certified Head and Neck Tumor Centers according to the German Cancer Society was established. Data collection was pseudonymously performed using the web-based Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).
In 2022 and 2023, 1312 patients with OPSCC from 34 centers were included. 720 patients (58.2 %) were p16-positive. The most common locations of p16-positive primary tumors were the tonsil (49.9 %) and the base of the tongue (28.7 %). 63.1 % of p16-positive OPSCC received primary surgical treatment, whereas only 48.0 % of p16-negative tumors received primary surgery. Differences are also evident in the adjuvant therapy: 58 % of p16-negative OPSCC did not receive adjuvant therapy after surgery, compared with 37.1 % of p16-positive OPSCC.
The start of the OPSCC registry study was technically smooth. This registry provides an insight into the current care situation of OPSCC in German-speaking countries and will gain importance through the participation of more centers.
Autorinnen/Autoren
,Collaborators
《-》
Oropharyngeal Probiotic ENT-K12 as an Effective Dietary Intervention for Children With Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections During Cold Season.
Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTi) cause a high burden of disease and lead to negative impact on quality of life, frequent school/work absenteeism, and doctor visits, which remain a great challenge to pediatricians because RRTi can increase the risk of various complications including antibiotic overuse and resistance, which is one of the biggest threats to global health, and there is no confirmed effective treatment. In this study, we aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 as a dietary intervention or a complementary treatment along with standard medical treatment during acute respiratory infections among children with RRTi during cold season. The results of this study show that when comparing to practicing of standard medical treatment only, the complementary intake of oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 can effectively reduce episodes of both acute and RRTi in school children, shorten the course of respiratory symptoms onset, reduce the use of antibiotics and antiviral drugs, and reduce the absence days from both children's school and parents' work. Using oropharyngeal probiotics as a complementary dietary intervention to stabilize oropharyngeal microflora, specifically inhibiting respiratory pathogens and enhancing host immunity, could possibly be a promising approach to reduce RRTi burden and combating antibiotic resistance in long term, more clinical studies will be needed to further confirm the clinical practicing guide to ensure its clinical benefit.
A total of 100 susceptible children with RRTi aged 3-10 years, living in Wuhan, China, were selected. They were randomized to the probiotic group and control group at the beginning of the trial during the cold season. Fifty children in the probiotic group took oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 for 30 days, along with standard medical treatment when there was an onset of respiratory symptoms and medical treatment was needed, and fifty children in the control group did not take oropharyngeal probiotics but only had standard medical treatment when there was an onset of respiratory symptoms and medical treatment was needed. Patients were followed up for 30 days during the cold season. The primary objective of this study is to assess the complementary dietary interventional efficacy of oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 on episodes of respiratory tract infections during the cold season, and the secondary objective is to assess the interventional efficacy of oropharyngeal probiotic on days of respiratory symptoms onset, using antiviral drugs, antibiotics, and antipyretics, days of children absent from school, and days of parents absent from work, as well as to confirm tolerability and safety judged by adverse event reporting.
There were 47 children, 22 male and 25 female children, with an average age of 5.71 years (SD = 1.99) in the probiotic group finishing the study, and 50 children, 32 male and 18 female children, in the control group with an average age of 6.12 years (SD = 1.98) finishing the study. During the 30-day period of oropharyngeal probiotic intake, children in the probiotic group totally had 7 episodes of upper respiratory tract infections, while children in the control group totally had 17 episodes of upper respiratory tract infections, indicating that the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection in the probiotic group (14.89%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (34.00%) during the intervention period. The days of using antibiotics and antiviral drugs in the probiotic group were significantly lower than that in the control group, and the course of respiratory symptoms onset was shorter and more moderate in the probiotic group than that in the control group; in addition, compared with the control group, both the days of children absent from school and parents' absence from work in the probiotic group were significantly lower. Children treated with oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 had excellent tolerability with no side effects reported, hence confirmed safety of applying oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 as a prophylactic use or an effective dietary intervention along with standard medication during respiratory infections onset.
Intake of oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 as a dietary intervention can effectively reduce episodes of upper respiratory tract infections in school children with RRTi during high peak season, reduce the days of using antibiotics and antiviral drugs, and reduce children's sick leave days, parents' absence days from work, and shorten the course of respiratory infections; the safety of oropharyngeal probiotic ENT-K12 has been confirmed with no side effects reported, excellent tolerability, and easy acceptance. Notably, this study opens up a new research idea in the field of microbe promoting human health by supplying direct proof to support its efficiency and safety.
Guo H
,Xiang X
,Lin X
,Wang Q
,Qin S
,Lu X
,Xu J
,Fang Y
,Liu Y
,Cui J
,Li Z
... -
《Frontiers in Nutrition》
[Current practice of tumour endoscopy in German ENT-clinics].
Second primary carcinomas (SPC) essentially influence therapy and the outcome in head and neck cancer. This study presents the current status of tumour endoscopy in German ENT-clinics.
A standardised questionnaire regarding indication, time of event, examined anatomical region and technique of tumour endoscopy was compiled, sent to all German ENT-clinics (n=159) and subsequently analysed.
In 94-100% of the clinics, tumour endoscopy is being conducted when primary carcinoma lies within oral cavity, pharynx, larynx or is a CUP-syndrome. In 80%, 2-stage surgical procedure is preferred. Nasal cavity and tracheobronchial system (47%, 74%) are often not included in the examination. When primary cancer is seen, in 7% of the clinics a standardised biopsy of unsuspicious anatomic areas is conducted. In CUP-syndrome, unsuspicious surfaces within the pharynx do not undergo routine biopsy in 10-20% of the clinics. In tracheobronchoscopy (63.0%) and esophagoscopy (93.3%) rigid scopes are mainly used. 65% of the clinics conduct endoscopy as follow-up care.
Practice of tumour endoscopy in German ENT-clinics is widespread but does not follow standardised mechanisms. Current international literature shows that there is no common consensus on value and techniques of tumour endoscopy, however, due to highly developed radiological diagnostics, risks of rigid endoscopies and unknown incidence of second primary tumours it is discussed more and more negative. To establish future guidelines, controlled studies or analysis of large populations seem to be necessary.
Sharma SJ
,Linke JJ
,Kroll T
,Klußmann JP
,Guntinas-Lichius O
,Wittekindt C
... -
《-》