Given the heterogeneity of different malignant processes, planning cancer treatment is challenging. According to recent studies, natural products are likely to be effective in cancer prevention and treatment. Among bioactive flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, kaempferol (KMP) is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This systematic review aims to highlight the potential therapeutic effects of KMP on different types of solid malignant tumors. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After the application of study criteria, 64 studies were included. In vitro experiments demonstrated that KMP exerts antitumor effects by controlling tumor cell cycle progression, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, as well as by inhibiting angiogenesis. KMP was also able to inhibit important markers that regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition and enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells to traditional drugs used in chemotherapy, including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. This flavonoid is a promising therapeutic compound and its combination with current anticancer agents, including targeted drugs, may potentially produce more effective and predictable results.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a rare malignancy that accounts for approximately 1% of all head and neck cancers. This neoplasm is characterized by slow but often relentless growth and dissemination. Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical-pathological features of patients diagnosed with head and neck AdCC and to identify possible prognostic factors. This retrospective observational study analyzed 87 cases of AdCC of the head and neck. Clinical parameters (tumor size, lymph node and distant metastasis, clinical stage, and survival) were obtained from the records. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan–Meier method. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. There was a slight predominance of cases diagnosed in female patients (54%). The mean age at diagnosis was 51.5 years. Analysis using Cox’s proportional hazards model considering 10-year disease-specific survival identified histologic pattern and presence of perineural invasion as independent prognostic variables. Primary tumor size and distant metastasis were prognostic predictors of 5- and 10-year disease-free survival. Detailed analysis of the association between clinical-pathological parameters and prognosis can assist professionals with cancer treatment planning and adequate patient management. Considering the long-term aggressive behavior of AdCC, rigorous patient follow-up is important to identify possible locoregional or distant recurrences.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare salivary gland tumor that accounts for approximately 1% of all head and neck cancers. Despite its initial indolent behavior, long-term survival is poor due to locoregional recurrence in approximately 40% and distant metastasis in up to 60% of patients who undergo radical treatment. The histological parameters of ACC and the combination of these parameters in histopathological grading systems provide valuable prognostic information about the clinical course of the disease. Within this context, this review aims to analyze the impact of histopathological parameters, individual or combined in histopathological grading systems of malignancy, on ACC prognosis. Individual histopathological parameters such as solid pattern, presence of tumor necrosis, high-grade transformation, dominance of the epithelial component, presence of perineural and lymphovascular invasion, and positive surgical margins have negative impacts on the survival of patients with ACC. There are currently four histopathological grading systems for ACC; however, few studies have validated these systems and most of them explored small cohorts with short follow-up. Considering that the application of grading systems has been associated with ACC prognosis, a broader validation will allow not only their use for prognostic prediction but also assist in treatment planning.