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Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
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Head and neck sarcomas: analysis of the SEER database
Kevin A Peng1, Tristan Grogan2, Marilene B Wang3
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA kap@ucla.edu.
Summary
Head and neck sarcomas are rare malignant tumors. This study found age, gender, and stage impact survival, but radiation therapy
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Sarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal tumors.
- Head and neck sarcomas represent a small fraction of all sarcoma diagnoses.
- Understanding the epidemiology and prognostic factors is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the epidemiology of head and neck sarcomas.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing patient survival.
- To analyze survival rates in adult and pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program (1973-2010).
- Inclusion of 11,481 adult and 1244 pediatric head and neck sarcoma cases.
- Multivariate and propensity-matched analyses to determine predictors of disease-specific survival.
Main Results:
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), Kaposi sarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma were most common in adults; rhabdomyosarcoma, MFH, and osteosarcoma in pediatric patients.
- Cause-specific survival rates were 76%, 66%, 61% for adults and 84%, 73%, 71% for pediatric patients at 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively.
- Adult male gender, absence of radiation therapy, and stage I disease were associated with improved survival, though matched analysis showed no significant difference with radiation.
Conclusions:
- Head and neck sarcomas are uncommon but prognostically influenced by various factors.
- Age, gender, primary site, histology, and radiation status significantly impact overall prognosis.
- This study provides the largest analysis of head and neck sarcomas to date.

