Background: Cellular senescence is a state characterized by cell-cycle arrest and apoptotic resistance. Senescence in cancer may be induced by oncogenes or therapy. While cellular senescence might play an important role in protection against cancer development, elevated and uncontrolled senescent cells accumulation may promote carcinogenesis by secreting a collection of pro-inflammatory factors, collectively termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Material and methods: We determined the gene expression at mRNA level of selected cellular senescence markers (p16 and LMNB1) and SASP factors (IL-6, IL-1b, CXCL-1 and TNF-α) in 72 cancerous tissues and 64 normal tissues obtained from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and correlated this data with patients’ clinical follow-up. Results: Our results indicate higher levels of selected SASP factors in cancerous compared to normal tissues. We presented the relationship between SASP factors expression at the transcript level and the progression of the disease. Moreover, we proposed CXCL1 as a candidate biomarker differentiating normal tissues from cancerous ones and IL1b expression as a molecular factor related to increased TNM stage. Conclusion: Our primary study indicates that SASP expression may be associated with some clinicopathological features. However, a more detailed study is needed to present specific role of senescence-related mechanism and SASPs especially in tumor therapy response and in relation to the patient’s immune system condition.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) continues to gain momentum in minimally invasive surgery. Not only is TORS potentially curative in many cases, but it also addresses the growing emphasis on functional outcomes and quality of life. The main anatomical areas in which TORS is used are the oropharynx...

Background and Objectives: Chronic radiotherapy-induced skin injury (cRISI) is an irreversible and progressive condition that can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Despite the limited literature available on the assessment of the epidermal barrier in cRISI, there is a consensus that appropriate skincare, including the use of emollients, is the primary therapeutic approach for this group of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biophysical properties of the skin during the late period (at least 90 days) following radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: This was a single-center prospective non-randomized study. It involved the analysis of 16 adult patients with head and neck cancer who underwent RT at the Greater Poland Cancer Center, along with 15 healthy volunteers. The study and control groups were matched for gender and age (p = 0.51). Clinical assessment, based on the LENT-SOMA scale, was conducted for all patients. Evaluation of the skin’s biophysical properties included: an analysis of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), and skin visualization using high-frequency ultrasonography (HF-USG). Results: A significantly higher TEWL was observed in the irradiated area compared to the control area in the study group (p = 0.004). However, there was no statistically significant difference in SCH (p = 0.073). Additionally, no significant difference was observed in the values of TEWL and SCH in the irradiated area between the group of patients with and without clinically obvious RISI (p = 0.192 and p = 0.415, respectively). The skin thickness of the irradiated area, assessed by HF-USG, did not differ significantly from the skin thickness of the control area (p = 0.638). Furthermore, no difference in skin thickness was observed in patients with clinical features of cRISI in the irradiated and control areas (p = 0.345). The mean time after RT was 6.1 years. Conclusions: This study marks the first demonstration of epidermal barrier damage in patients in the long term following RT for head and neck cancer. The impairment of the epidermal barrier was observed independently of evident cRISI features. This observation underscores the necessity to recommend appropriate skin care, including the use of emollients, for all patients following RT. We also suggest that HF-USG examination is generally inconclusive in determining the degree of skin damage in the late period after RT.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of surgical experience in a high volume head and neck surgery department on basal cell carcinoma margin status. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 546 patients surgically treated for primary basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck region was carried out. Resections were performed by 4 specialists with equal experience in head and neck surgery and 4 ENT residents at the same level of surgical training. A margin of 3-5 mm was chosen, according to guidelines. Results: The study consisted of 304 males and 242 females, mean age of 69 (range 26-100). Most of the tumors were loca-ted on the nose (165 pts; 30.2%) and auricle (119; 21.7%). The most common histological subtype was nodular (119; 21.7%). Tumor size was up to 20 mm in 394 cases (72%). Positive surgical margins were found in 112 cases (20.5%). There was no difference in terms of positive surgical margins between residents (19/119 cases; 15.9%) and specialists (93/426; 21.8%; p = 0.161). Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that adequate surgical training in a dedicated head and neck surgery de-partment is an efficient factor in obtaining free surgical margins in head and neck basal cell carcinoma.

Certain cancer treatments cause an increase in the number of senescent cells in cancer and nonmalignant cells. Senescence which is characterized by telomere shortening, DNA damage, and improper expression of oncogenes are all examples of triggers that cause cellular senescence. Failure to rejoin the cell cycle after mitotic stimulation, resistance to cell death, and an increased secretory phenotype are all signs of senescence. A rising number of studies point that spontaneous senescence and therapy-induced senescence (TIS) play a strong role in cancer aggressiveness. Senescent cells may have a role in oncogenesis mainly through the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which produces an immunosuppressive environment. This aids in tumor development and relapse by secreting factors such as IL-6, IL-8, CCL5, VEGF, and CXCL5 that contribute to cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as immune-mediated clearance.

Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) signaling, along with key markers such as P16^INK4a/CDKN2A and LMNB1, has not been systematically studied in circulating lymphocyte subsets in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to evaluate SASP-related genes and senescence markers in peripheral CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and CD19⁺ cells and assess their clinical relevance. Expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα, CXCL1, P16^INK4a/CDKN2A, and LMNB1 was measured by RT-qPCR in sorted lymphocytes from 58 HNSCC patients at baseline, 31 post-treatment, and 13 controls. Statistical analyses included nonparametric tests, correlation analyses, and survival models (Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression). In the results, LMNB1 was significantly upregulated in all lymphocyte subsets of HNSCC patients. IL-6, CXCL1, and IL-1β were elevated in CD4⁺ T cells. A coordinated co-expression network involving IL-6, CXCL1, IL-1β, P16^INK4a/CDKN2A, and LMNB1 was observed. Clinically, IL-6 in CD8⁺ T cells was associated with higher nodal stage and worse survival, while CXCL1 in CD19⁺ B cells independently predicted survival. No differences were found between pre- and post-treatment samples. Circulating lymphocytes in HNSCC display coordinated expression of selected senescence-associated genes, with IL-6 and CXCL1 as candidate prognostic biomarkers linked to tumor progression that warrant further validation.