A Study of the Prognostic Factors for Late Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis and Distant Metastasis in Patients with cT1-2N0 Tongue Cancer

Abstract

Background: Early-stage tongue cancer has a good prognosis in general; however, high-risk patients with late cervical lymph node and distant metastases have a poor prognosis. Elective neck dissection and postoperative chemoradiotherapy are considered for these patients, although no clear criteria have been identified for their evaluation. Methods: This retrospective observational study aimed to determine the predictive factors for late cervical lymph node and distant metastases in 102 patients with cT1-2N0 tongue cancer. The data regarding the demographic characteristics, as well as the depth of invasion, tumor budding, histological grade, and tumor–stromal ratio, among other things, were extracted from medical records. Results: We found that the potential lymph node metastasis rate was 27.5%. The significant clinical predictors of late cervical lymph node metastasis were the tumor thickness and endophytic growth pattern and the significant histopathological factors were poorly and moderately differentiated tumors and ≥3 tumor buds. In addition, the prognostic factors for distant metastasis included ≥4 lymph node metastases, ≥7 tumor budding, and moderate and poor tumor differentiation. Conclusions: The usefulness of tumor budding as a predictor of metastasis for tongue cancer was suggested. The findings of this study can help establish the criteria for evaluating the metastasis risk and prognosis of patients with tongue cancers.

Fucoxanthin Induces Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells via Downregulation of the Nrf2/HO−1/GPX4 Pathway

“…Its complex etiology is associated with foreign body stimulation, radiation injury, immunodeficiency, poor oral hygiene, and other factors. The tongue’s abundant blood vessels and lymphatic tissue, as well as its frequent mechanical movement, lead to early hematogenous and lymph node metastasis; it may reach the lung in later stages [ 2 ]. Current tongue cancer treatment mainly involves surgical resection of the primary lesion combined with neck dissection, which is partially effective [ 3 ].…”