Rare tumor entities in the head and neck region are biologically heterogeneous, frequently only investigated in small cohorts, and therapeutically challenging. The current article critically contextualizes clinically relevant studies presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on salivary gland, thyroid, and nasopharyngeal cancer and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In adenoid cystic carcinoma, several molecularly targeted strategies have shown early activity, including MYB degradation, NOTCH inhibition, and a B7-H4-directed antibody-drug conjugate. In other salivary gland cancers, HER2-directed therapy and androgen receptor blockade were relevant. In thyroid cancer, selective tyrosine kinase inhibition and multimodal concepts for anaplastic carcinoma confirmed the importance of molecular diagnostics and repeated assessment of operability. In nasopharyngeal cancer, cadonilimab in combination with chemotherapy prolonged progression-free survival after failure of immunotherapy. In cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, definitive irradiation with cemiplimab and adjuvant immunotherapy were investigated. Overall, the data support biomarker-based and interdisciplinary treatment pathways; however, given the small, often single-arm studies, the data should be interpreted with caution.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has emerged as a distinct and rising subset of head and neck malignancy, yet awareness among dental care practitioners remains limited. The authors synthesized the molecular biology of HPV-driven oral and oropharyngeal carcinogenesis, the diagnostic frameworks, and the evidence base for an expanded dental care practitioner role in detection, counseling, and prevention.

A structured literature search of PubMed-indexed English-language articles through March 2026 was conducted using search terms including HPV, oropharyngeal cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, p16 immunohistochemistry, HPV vaccination, and dental practice. Original research, systematic reviews, clinical guidelines, and population-level surveillance data were selected, with an emphasis on studies reporting clinical, diagnostic, or prevention outcomes applicable to dental settings. The authors did not include single case reports or small case series, and they excluded conference abstracts, editorials, and articles not available in the English language.

HPV type 16 drives from 70% through 90% of HPV-positive OPSCCs through E6-mediated p53 degradation and E7-mediated retinoblastoma protein inactivation. HPV-positive OPSCC carries a better prognosis than HPV-negative disease but lacks a clinically identifiable premalignant phase and typically manifests at an advanced locoregional stage. P16 immunohistochemistry has reduced specificity in the oral cavity and tobacco-predominant populations. Prophylactic HPV vaccination had an 88% reduction in vaccine-type oral HPV prevalence among vaccinated young adults.

Dental care practitioners can contribute meaningfully to earlier detection through systematic clinical examination, cervical lymph node palpation, timely specialist referral, patient counseling on HPV transmission, and vaccination advocacy.

PEComas are neoplasms originating from perivascular epithelioid cells. Their incidence is higher in patients with tuberous sclerosis; however, hepatic PEComas are exceptionally rare compared to those in other locations. Diagnostic confirmation relies on histopathological findings and immunohistochemical phenotypes.

To evaluate the clinical-radiological presentation, histopathological characteristics, and surgical outcomes of a multicenter cohort of hepatic PEComas.

A retrospective, multicenter, nationwide observational study of patients with histologically confirmed hepatic PEComa who underwent surgery at Spanish centers between 2010 and 2024.

Twenty-two patients were included; 21 (95.5%) were women, with a mean age of 54.7 years. Mean tumor size was 4.3 cm. Preoperative radiological diagnosis was challenging, with PEComa identified in only one case (4.5%). Preoperative biopsy was performed in 8 patients, yielding a diagnosis of PEComa in 6 cases (75%). Surgical procedures consisted of minor hepatectomy in 14 patients (63.6%) and major hepatectomy in 8 patients (36.4%). The 90-day mortality rate was 0%. Mean hospital stay was 4.5 days. Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for: HMB45 (19 patients, 90.5%), Melan-A (17, 81%), and actin (13, 61.9%). After a median follow-up of 49 months, no recurrences were detected.

Preoperative diagnosis of PEComa poses a radiological challenge, frequently requiring biopsy for confirmation. Surgical treatment was not associated with mortality, showed a relevant complication rate of 18.2%, and no recurrences were observed.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Esophageal involvement is an exceedingly rare manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Owing to its clinical and endoscopic features, it may mimic neoplastic disease, thereby complicating early diagnosis. We present the case of an immunocompromised patient with constitutional symptoms and dysphagia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a large ulcerated esophageal lesion highly suggestive of malignancy; however, histopathological and microbiological examination confirmed its infectious etiology.

The branching patterns of the facial nerve (FN) vary among individuals, which may affect the risk of surgical complications.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between FN branching patterns and clinical variables including facial paralysis in patients undergoing parotidectomy in our clinic and to reveal the region-specific anatomical distribution of the FN.

Data from 39 patients who underwent parotidectomy were analyzed. In all cases, the main trunk of the FN was located at the exit of the stylomastoid foramen and dissected. Intraoperative nerve monitoring was used in all cases. The branching patterns of the FN were categorized according to the Davis and Alomar classifications. The relationship between these two classifications and the variables was statistically analyzed.

Of patients, 53.8% were female and 46.1% were male, with an average age of 47.59 ± 16.12 years. The mean length of the main trunk of the FN was 15.44 ± 3.51 mm. The interbranch anastomosis rate was 74.36%. In the Alomar classification, the most frequent subtype was IB2 (51.28%), while in the Davis classification, Type I (25.64%) and Type III (25.64%) were the most frequent. The rate of facial paralysis (FP) in the early postoperative period was determined to be 33.3%. A significant association was found between malignant tumors and the development of FP ( P = 0.035 ).

Understanding the branching patterns of the FN and regional anatomical variations is critical for improving surgical success during parotidectomy. Among clinical variables, malignant histopathology is the strongest predictor of FP.

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous tumors are rare. In this study, a 19-year-old female with a giant retroperitoneal ovarian mucinous cystadenoma and superinfection was reported, alongside an analysis of 85 cases. The patient had fever and a palpable mass, with imaging showing a 23 cm x 13 cm x 27 cm cystic lesion and elevated levels of CA199 and ferritin. The tumor was fully removed and confirmed as a mucinous cystadenoma with infection. Our review shows that these tumors mainly occur in young to middle-aged adults (86.1%) and vary in size (3-30 cm) and about 17.3% of tumors are giant (>20 cm). High CA125 and CA199 levels may indicate borderline or malignant changes. The pathology is diverse, often with benign, borderline, and malignant areas in the same tumor and benign types can progress to malignancy. Effective treatment relies on complete surgical removal. Although benign and borderline types have good outcomes, malignant mucinous cystadenocarcinomas have a high recurrence rate (33.3%) after tumor removal alone. This risk is greatly reduced with additional hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Our research highlights the importance of early surgery, and provides practical management advice for this rare condition.

The clinical management of gastric cancer is challenged by profound tumor heterogeneity and the emergence of drug-resistant cell populations. Ferroptosis, a regulated form of iron-dependent cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has exhibited limited clinical efficacy as a monotherapy. Emerging evidence shows that selective autophagy pathways can promote ferroptosis.

In this study, integrated analysis of ferroptosis-associated autophagy genes (FARGs) was conducted to explore their application potential in improving therapeutic outcomes. By leveraging transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases, a prognostic model was developed using univariate Cox regression followed by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, which identified 11 FARGs exhibiting robust prognostic performance across multiple cohorts.

Functional enrichment analysis revealed distinct pathway activations: extracellular matrix remodeling was enriched in high-risk patients, whereas interferon-mediated immune responses were heightened in low-risk patients. Further tumor microenvironment characterization revealed that high-risk patients displayed an immunosuppressive phenotype marked by M2 macrophage infiltration, upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules, and elevated stromal activity. By contrast, low-risk patients were associated with a higher prevalence of microsatellite instability-high status and increased tumor mutational burden, which are biomarkers predictive of favorable responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Investigation into autophagy-ferroptosis crosstalk highlighted the central role of lipid metabolism-related pathways. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A2 was also identified as a key biomarker, and functional validation confirmed its involvement in promoting cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Collectively, the FARG-based model developed here shows great application potential in stratifying patient responses to immunotherapy and developing personalized treatment strategies for gastric cancer.

Fuzi Lizhong (FZLZ) decoction is renowned for its traditional role in warming the middle jiao and treating spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndrome, and recent studies have uncovered its novel and promising potential in regulating chronic inflammation and intercepting the critical transition from inflammation to cancer. This review systematically integrates and critically examines the emerging mechanisms through which FZLZ and its active components modulate key cellular signaling pathways in chronic inflammatory environments. By focusing specifically on the decoction's role in blocking "inflammation-cancer transformation"-a frontier area in both traditional and modern medicines-this article not only synthesizes current research advances but also identifies underexplored therapeutic targets and proposes new directions for future translational studies.

Angiogenesis is a crucial step in the growth and metastasis of invasive tumors. Tumor-induced angiogenesis is not due to a single factor; it involves activation of oncogenic signaling pathways and abnormal expression of angiogenesis-related genes within the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Traditional research has primarily focused on the regulation of angiogenesis by protein-coding genes. In recent years, growing evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in angiogenesis. In this study, we systematically elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate tumor-associated angiogenesis, including epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, lncRNAs indirectly influence angiogenesis by regulating the functions of endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and tumor-associated macrophages within the TME. In addition, lncRNA-targeted therapeutic strategies have been summarized with specific emphasis on their potential integration with anti-angiogenic tumor therapy, including oligonucleotide-based silencing, restoration of tumor-suppressive lncRNAs, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) combination strategies, and nanomaterial-mediated delivery systems. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for innovative research on vascular targeted therapy for tumors.

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women worldwide. Despite advances in medical treatment, many survivors experience distressing symptoms and therapy-related side effects that impair quality of life. Acupuncture-related therapies are increasingly employed as supportive care strategies, yet their evidence base remains fragmented.ObjectiveTo construct an evidence map of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses evaluating acupuncture and related therapies for breast cancer-related symptoms.MethodsSearches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Research Information Service System (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Search Integrated System (OASIS), and Korean Studies Information Services System (KISS) from inception to April 24, 2025. Eligible SRs included breast cancer populations, any acupuncture-related intervention, and reported outcomes relevant to symptom management or treatment side effects. Data extraction included bibliographic details, intervention type, outcomes, number of studies, sample size, effect direction, and methodological quality (AMSTAR-2). Evidence was synthesized descriptively and presented using heatmaps.ResultsA total of 47 SRs with meta-analysis were included, covering 11 distinct symptom domains and 6 categories of interventions. The most frequently studied outcomes were hot flashes (n=9), general supportive care during chemotherapy (n=9), lymphedema (n=7), general side effect management (n=6), and aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (n=4). The most common interventions were acupuncture (n=17), acupuncture combination therapies (n=16), and acupoint injection (n=9). Across the included SRs, 20 reported positive effects, 23 were mixed, and 4 reported no clear evidence of benefit. Only 8 of 47 SRs achieved moderate confidence, and none were rated high, indicating widespread methodological limitations across the evidence base (29 low, 10 critically low).ConclusionAcupuncture and related therapies are widely studied as supportive care strategies for breast cancer-related symptoms with promising evidence. However, the majority of SRs are of low methodological quality. High-quality trials and rigorously conducted systematic reviews are needed to strengthen the evidence base, reduce redundancy, and guide integrative oncology practice.