Nasopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Research Articles

Analysis of cases of cervical cystic lymph node metastasis with an unknown primary misdiagnosed as branchial cleft carcinoma

Objectives: To analyze the location, discovery time and possible causes of cases of cervical cystic lymph node metastasis with an unknown primary misdiagnosed as branchial cleft carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical and pathological data of 15 patients misdiagnosed as branchiogenic carcinoma at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between January 2000 and December 2020. Results: Among the 15 patients, 6 were nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 4 tonsil squamous cell carcinoma, 2 tongue root squamous cell carcinoma, 2 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and 1 thyroid papillary carcinoma. The median time from the diagnosis of branchial cleft carcinoma to the discovery of primary lesions was 3.58 months (0-76 months). The causes of misdiagnosis might be the lack of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of branchial cleft carcinoma, and not enough attention to comprehensive examination and close follow-up. Conclusions: Different from oropharyngeal cancer reported internationally, the proportion of misdiagnosed cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma as the primary site in the current article is higher. As a country with a high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the examination of nasopharynx should not be taken lightly. Most hidden cases can be found in the comprehensive examination in a short time, while a few cases need long-term follow-up. Finding the primary sites should not rely too much on imaging examination, and we cannot ignore the importance of clinical physical examination.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with non-squamous phenotype may be a variant of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after inhibition of EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancerous tumor that develops in the nasopharynx epithelium and typically has squamous differentiation. The squamous phenotype is evident in immunohistochemistry, with diffuse nuclear positivity for p63 and p40. Nonetheless, a few NPCs have been identified by clinicopathological diagnosis that do not exhibit the squamous phenotype; these NPCs are currently referred to as non-squamous immunophenotype nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NSNPCs). In a previous work, we have revealed similarities between the histological appearance, etiology, and gene alterations of NSNPC and conventional NPC. According to ultrastructural findings, NSNPC still falls under the category of non-keratinized squamous cell carcinoma that is undifferentiated. NSNPC has an excellent prognosis and a low level of malignancy, according to a retrospective investigation. Based on prior research, we investigated the molecular mechanism of NSNPC not expressing the squamous phenotype and its biological behavior. IHC was used to determine the expression of EGFR, PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, mTOR, p-mTOR, Notch, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in a total of 20 NSNPC tissue samples and 20 classic NPC tissue samples. We obtained human NPC cell lines (CNE-2,5-8F) and used EGFR overexpression plasmid and shRNAs to transfect them. To find out whether mRNA and proteins were expressed in the cells, we used Western blotting and qRT-PCR. Cell biological behavior was discovered using the CCK-8 assay, cell migration assay, and cell invasion assay. EGFR, PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR proteins were lowly expressed in NSNPC tissues by immunohistochemistry, compared with classical NPC. In the classical NPC cell lines CNE-2 and 5-8F, overexpression EGFR can up-regulate the expression of p63 through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. At the same time, knockout of EGFR can down-regulate p63 expression through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. The lack of p63 expression in NSNPC was linked with the inhibition of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and NSNPC may be a variant of classical NPC.

195 epidemiological, clinical, and evolutionary features of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

195 epidemiological, clinical, and evolutionary features of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Definitive radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Japan: analysis of cases in the National Head and Neck Cancer Registry from 2011 to 2014.

This study aimed to analyze the nationwide prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent definitive radiotherapy in Japan, utilizing the National Head and Neck Cancer Registry data. A total of 741 patients diagnosed with primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma were screened from 2011 to 2014. The inclusion criteria were histologically proven nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, receiving definitive radiotherapy, and no distant metastases. Patients with unclear prognoses or unknown staging were excluded. The primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival, and secondary endpoints were 5-year progression-free survival and survival by stage. A total of 457 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 60years, and 80% were male. The proportions of patients with performance status 0, 1, 2 and 3 were 69, 10, 1 and 1%, respectively. Chemoradiotherapy was administered to 84.7%. Radiotherapy modalities were recorded only for 29 patients (three received intensity-modulated radiotherapy and 26 received two/three-dimensional radiotherapy). Of those included, 7.4, 24.7, 35.7, 24.5 and 7.7% had Stage I, II, III, IVA and IVB disease, respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 72.5% for all patients: 82.6, 86.6, 76.0, 51.4 and 66.5% for Stage I, II, III, IVA and IVB disease, respectively. The 5-year progression-free survival was 58.6%: 75.6, 66.8, 61.5, 43.7 and 46.5% for Stage I, II, III, IVA and IVB disease, respectively. This nationwide survey demonstrated favorable prognoses and provided valuable foundational data for similar future surveys to monitor the penetration of appropriate treatment and changes in clinical structures based on new evidence.

Developing a nomogram model and prognostic analysis of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients: a population-based study.

Nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (NPSCC) is a common histo-logical subtype of nasopharyngeal cancer with a generally poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to identify factors affecting the survival prognosis of NPSCC patients and develop a specialized nomogram model. We extracted clinical data of 1235 diagnosed cases of NPSCC from the SEER database using SEER*Stat software. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to explore clinical factors that impact the prognosis of NPSCC patients. Based on significant independent factors, we developed a nomogram to predict the 1, 3, and 5years overall survival rates. The discriminative and predictive abilities of the nomogram were evaluated using C-index, calibration curve, area under the curve (AUC), and receiver operating characteristic curve. We evaluated the clinical value of the nomogram using decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC). We performed a cohort analysis on 846 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer in the training cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed age, race, marital status, primary tumor, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, SJCC stage, primary tumor size, Lung metastasis and brain metastasis as independent prognostic factors for NPSCC patients, which we used to construct the nomogram prediction model. The C-index of the training cohort was 0.737. The ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC of the OS rate at 1, 3, and 5years in the training cohort was > 0.75. The calibration curves of the two cohorts showed good consistency between the predicted and observed results. DCA and CIC demonstrated that the nomogram prediction model had good clinical benefits. The nomogram risk prediction model for NPSCC patient survival prognosis, constructed in this study, has exhibited excellent predictive capability. This model can be employed for swift and precise assessment of individualized survival prognosis. It can offer valuable guidance to clinical physicians in diagnosing and treating NPSCC patients.

Assessment of feasibility of cochlear sparing optimized radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma using high conformal radiation technique

Background: One of the most prevalent head-and-neck tumors in Southeast Asia is nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Each year, NPC causes 84,400 new cases and 51,600 fatalities worldwide. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which has good local control and few side effects on healthy tissue, is being used to treat NPC. Aims and Objectives: Our study aims to assess the feasibility of cochlear sparing using volumetric-modulated arc therapy/IMRT technique. Materials and Methods: Radiotherapy plans of 20 patients diagnosed with NPC who received curative concurrent chemoradiation (Weekly Cisplatin dose of 40 mg/m2) with RT dose of 66 −70 Gy at 1.8–2 Gy/# to a total of 33–35# delivered using True beam LINAC between the year 2020 and 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Cochlea sparing reoptimization led to a considerable reduction in radiation dose for both cochleae as compared to the original treatment plans. The median D mean and D max for the left and right cochlea was found to be decreased. The difference in planning target volume (PTV)-D mean between the original and reoptimized plans was negligible. After reoptimization, the median PTV CI remained unchanged. The sparing of the left and right parotids and brain stem was not improved by reoptimization. A similar event was noted for the spinal cord, where the change from the median D max was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our investigation showed that a much-increased cochlea sparing is possible in the majority of patients while maintaining PTV dosage coverage and the other organs at risk. Clinical trials in the future, both retrospective and prospective, should examine the effects of this optimization.

Hypoxia-induced paclitaxel resistance in cervical cancer modulated by miR-100 targeting of USP15

ObjectiveHypoxia, which occurs during the development of cervical cancer, confers chemotherapy resistance. MicroRNA expression is regulated by hypoxia and is associated with the onset and progression of certain types of cancer. MicroRNA-100 (miR-100) is a microRNA, associated with nasopharyngeal and oral squamous cell carcinomas, whose expression is decreased in cervical cancer. This study aims to ascertain the effect of hypoxia on expression levels of both miR-100 and its target genes, as well as exploring the sensitivity to paclitaxel under hypoxic conditions. MethodsWe investigated the effect of hypoxia on miR-100 expression. We also explored the regulators of paclitaxel response under hypoxic conditions of cervical cancer. ResultsUsing RT-qPCR, we found that expression of miR-100 in cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and HeLa is significantly higher under hypoxic conditions (1% O2). We also confirmed that human ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (USP15) is the one of the target proteins of miR-100. Hypoxia and overexpression of miR-100 both reduced the activity of the luciferase reporter containing the 3′-untranslated region of USP15, which contains the miR-100 binding site. Furthermore, a western blot analysis showed that hypoxia suppresses the expression of the USP15 protein, while RT-qPCR showed hypoxia-induced downregulation of USP15 mRNA levels. We also discovered that overexpression of miR-100 induces paclitaxel resistance, thereby reducing the drug’s therapeutic effect on cell death. ConclusionsOur results are consistent with the hypothesis that cervical cancer cells overexpress miR-100 in response to hypoxia and that miR-100 is a facilitator of USP15 downregulation and inactivation.

Detection and Monitoring of Circulating Tumor HPV DNA in HPV-Associated Sinonasal and Nasopharyngeal Cancers

This prospective observational study examines if circulating tumor human papillomavirus DNA can be used as an accurate measure of disease status at the time of diagnosis, throughout treatment, and during monitoring in human papillomavirus-associated sinonasal and nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Effects of SENP1-induced deSUMOylation of STAT1 on proliferation and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and recurrence and metastasis are still difficult problems in its current treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SUMO modification of STAT1 protein on the proliferation and invasion of NPC, and to reveal the underlying mechanism. Two gene expression profiles (GSE12452 and GSE53819) of 49 nasopharyngeal carcinomas and 28 normal controls were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes. In total, 448 up-regulated genes and 622 down-regulated genes were identified. In addition, 16 SUMO-related molecules in the NPC dataset GSE102349 with survival data were analyzed, and it was found that the high expression of SENP1 and SENP2 was closely related to the poor prognosis of NPC. GO and GSEA analysis suggested that immune-related biological processes, IFN-γ-STAT signaling pathway and protein modification-related molecules were significantly enriched in NPC, resulting in poor survival prognosis. In order to verify the results of bioinformatics analysis and explore its underlying molecular mechanisms, western blot, Immunofluorescence, Immunoprecipitation and Immunohistochemistry are conducted in NPC cells, animals and clinical samples. SENP1 and STAT protein levels were increased in NPC tissues. SENP1 inhibited SUMOylation of STAT1, thereby promoting the protein level of STAT1 and the nuclear translocation. SENP1 promoted the proliferation and invasion of NPC by inducing STAT1. Overall, SENP1-induced deSUMOylation of STAT1, resulting in an increased proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Synchronized With Nasopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of the upper respiratory tract. We present an extremely rare case of nasopharyngeal large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) synchronized with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Both SCC and LCNEC are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, supported by the positive result of Epstein-Barr encoding region in-situ hybridization. Strong correlation is found between EBV infection and nasopharyngeal malignancies. Furthermore, the EBV status might be a crucial prognostic factor in nasopharyngeal LCNEC. EBV-positive LCNEC is effective to chemoradiotherapy, and may have preferable outcome than EBV-negative LCNEC arising in the nasopharynx or other sites. The recognition of the EBV status is important for patients to receive appropriate treatment.

Nasopharyngeal mucoepidermoid carcinoma: a case report and review of its current management

<p class="abstract">Salivary gland tumours arising at the nasopharynx is highly infrequent. Among them the commonest is mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Reports with a larger number of patients are often from Asian countries where nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is also predominant. Although nasopharyngeal MEC (NMEC) is a disease of adults, sporadic cases amongst children have been reported. We report a case of a 32 years old man presented with complaining of intermittent epistaxis over a year. His nasal endoscopy showed friable polypoid tumour at the right choanae. Histopathology revealed a NMEC and he underwent endoscopic endonasal nasopharyngectomy with adjuvant radiotherapy. The optimal treatment for NMEC is arbitrary due to the lack of evidence. However, unlike most sinonasal malignancies, NMEC has the tendency to manifest itself early and has good response to the treatment. Therefore, in this article we describe the clinical features and justifications for the selection of treatment options including surgical and non-surgical therapies and including the role of neck dissection.</p>

Characterizing the Effects of Site-Specific Metastases on Nasopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survival

Characterizing the Effects of Site-Specific Metastases on Nasopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survival

Potential of unglycosylated horseradish peroxidase variants for enzyme prodrug cancer therapy

Fighting cancer still relies on chemo- and radiation therapy, which is a trade-off between effective clearance of malignant cells and severe side effects on healthy tissue. Targeted cancer treatment on the other hand is a promising and refined strategy with less systemic interference. The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) exhibits cytotoxic effects on cancer cells in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). However, the plant-derived enzyme is out of bounds for medical purposes due to its foreign glycosylation pattern and resulting rapid clearance and immunogenicity. In this study, we generated recombinant, unglycosylated HRP variants in Escherichia coli using random mutagenesis and investigated their biochemical properties and suitability for cancer treatment. The cytotoxicity of the HRP-IAA enzyme prodrug system was assessed in vitro with HCT-116 human colon, FaDu human nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and murine colon adenocarcinoma cells (MC38). Extensive cytotoxicity was shown in all three cancer cell lines: the cell viability of HCT-116 and MC38 cells treated with HRP-IAA was below 1% after 24 h incubation and the surviving fraction of FaDu cells was ≤ 10% after 72 h. However, no cytotoxic effect was observed upon in vivo intratumoral application of HRP-IAA on a MC38 tumor model in C57BL/6J mice. However, we expect that targeting of HRP to the tumor by conjugation to specific antibodies or antibody fragments will reduce HRP clearance and thereby enhance therapy efficacy.

Attribution of NF-κB Activity to CHUK/IKKα-Involved Carcinogenesis.

Studies analyzing human cancer genome sequences and genetically modified mouse models have extensively expanded our understanding of human tumorigenesis, even challenging or reversing the dogma of certain genes as originally characterized by in vitro studies. Inhibitor-κB kinase α (IKKα), which is encoded by the conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase (CHUK) gene, is first identified as a serine/threonine protein kinase in the inhibitor-κB kinase complex (IKK), which is composed of IKKα, IKKβ, and IKKγ (NEMO). IKK phosphorylates serine residues 32 and 36 of IκBα, a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, to induce IκBα protein degradation, resulting in the nuclear translocation of NF-κB dimers that function as transcriptional factors to regulate immunity, infection, lymphoid organ/cell development, cell death/growth, and tumorigenesis. NF-κB and IKK are broadly and differentially expressed in the cells of our body. For a long time, the idea that the IKK complex acts as a direct upstream activator of NF-κB in carcinogenesis has been predominately accepted in the field. Surprisingly, IKKα has emerged as a novel suppressor for skin, lung, esophageal, and nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as lung and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (ADC). Thus, Ikkα loss is a tumor driver in mice. On the other hand, lacking the RANKL/RANK/IKKα pathway impairs mammary gland development and attenuates oncogene- and chemical carcinogen-induced breast and prostate tumorigenesis and metastasis. In general, NF-κB activation leads one of the major inflammatory pathways and stimulates tumorigenesis. Since IKKα and NF-κB play significant roles in human health, revealing the interplay between them greatly benefits the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human cancer. In this review, we discuss the intriguing attribution of NF-κB to CHUK/IKKα-involved carcinogenesis.

CASE REPORT: NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA IN PREGNANCY

Abstract Introduction: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in pregnancy is a rare case, a dilemma in its management. This condition has a significant negative effect on pregnancy, given risk of premature birth, fetal defects and abortion. Case Report: 23-year-old woman with 13 weeks gestation age comes with swelling in both necks accompanied by nosebleeds. On nasoendoscopic examination, there was a mass at nasopharynx. Histopathological examination results a nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: The management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in pregnancy is very complex, need for extensive multidisciplinary approach with experienced doctors in their respective fields

Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical relevance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC), particularly in patients with nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. CTCs were isolated using negative immunomagnetic bead enrichment and were identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Youden's index and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to select the optimal CTC baseline value. χ2 test or Fisher's test were used to determine the association between CTC counts and clinical parameters, curative effects and prognosis. The Kaplan-Meier estimator was used to analyze overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). In the present study, 356 peripheral blood samples (178 pretreatment samples and 178 post-treatment samples) from 178 patients were examined. The results revealed that the pretreatment CTC detection rate was 73.8%. The minimum, maximum and median CTC counts were 1, 22 and 2/3.2 ml, respectively. The number of polyploid CTCs was associated with distant metastasis (P=0.026). In addition, patients with undetectable CTCs, and decreasing or negative CTCs post-treatment tended to have a good prognosis (P<0.05). For nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the PFS of patients with increased CTCs and CTCs ≥2/3.2 ml after treatment was significantly lower (P<0.05). For hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, it was suggested that CTCs with a cutoff value of 3 may be used to evaluate PFS and OS before and after treatment. In conclusion, CTCs may be used to monitor disease progression and the response to chemoradiotherapy for patients with LA-HNSCC. Furthermore, CTCs are a better predictor of the prognosis of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma than that of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Dosimetric evaluation of hippocampus incidental radiation dose in nasopharyngeal cancer patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Background: The incidental radiation exposure to hippocampus during radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancers may contribute to short-term toxicity like disequilibrium and lack of inhibition and also to long-term memory loss. Objective: To diametrically evaluate the dose received by hippocampus in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Materials and Methods: Eleven patients with histologically proven locally advanced nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The total prescribed dose to the planning target volume was 70 Gy (D95%) delivered in 2 Gy daily fractions using IMRT technique. Employing the anatomical guidelines and magnetic resonance imaging coregistration, the hippocampi were delineated on axial imaging from the simulation computed tomography scan for each patient. IMRT treatment plans were generated without applying dose–volume constraints to the hippocampus. Maximum hippocampus dose, mean hippocampus dose, minimum hippocampus dose, and hippocampus volume receiving 3 Gray dose (V3Gy) were analyzed. Results: The mean hippocampus volume was 4.7 cm3. The average minimum dose to the entire hippocampus was 5.276 Gy (range, 0.072–18.609 Gy); the average maximum point dose to the hippocampus was 21.405 Gy (range, 0.595–59.832 Gy); and the average mean dose to the entire hippocampus volume was 10.922 Gy (range, 0.194–34.706 Gy) and V3Gy was 79.15 Gy (range, 0%–100%). Conclusion: The dosimetric analysis suggests that patients who underwent IMRT for nasopharyngeal cancer received significantly high incidental dose to the hippocampus. The study creates awareness regarding the need to routinely delineate hippocampus as an organ at risk in the radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancers.

Successful treatment of recurrent metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma with nivolumab: a case report

The study objective is to report a case of successful treatment of disseminated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with nivolumab. Materials and methods . A 22-year-old male patient was admitted to N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology with a diagnosis of T3N3M1 stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma with bone metastasis. After a course of radical chemoradiotherapy, the patient was found to have cancer progression. Between September 2016 and July 2017, the patient received chemotherapy with 3 lines of drugs, but with no effect. We decided to initiate treatment with PD-1 inhibitors. The patient received nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks between July 2017 and March 2018. Results. Positron emission tomography (September 2018) demonstrated no increased uptake of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose in earlier identified cancer foci. Since September 2018, the patient has been in persistent remission without any therapy. Conclusion. This case report demonstrates high efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in the treatment of disseminated recurrent nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, resistant to standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Viabahn stent extrusion into the airway in association with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Carotid blowout syndrome is a rare condition where blood extravagates from the carotid artery due to vessel damage. Frequently, this is an emergency that needs to be treated by endovascular stent deployment. Rarely, these stents erode through the blood vessel wall and extrude into the airway or oropharynx. Here, we present the case of a 48-year-old male with a history of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that had a Viabahn stent placed due to carotid blowout. Six months later, the stent was extruded into the airway and the patient coughed up the stent. The patient remained asymptomatic during stent extrusion and a computerized tomography angiography demonstrated cessation of flow in the carotid artery. This is a rare but serious side effect of stent placement in the setting of nasopharyngeal cancer and carotid blowout syndrome.

Shared functional modules for nasopharyngeal and oral squamous cell carcinoma identified by network analysis of transcriptomes

Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are highly correlated clinical diseases, the underling molecular mechanisms to link the two diseases remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to identify the shared functional modules for NPC and OSCC by using large-scale transcriptomic data. Gene expression profile datasets of NPC and OSCC were obtained from the GEO database. A total of 1279 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of NPC and 1293 DEGs of OSCC were identified by fold change and empirical Bayes method, and 278 DEGs were common to these two diseases. These overlapped genes were translated into a primary network consisting of 1290 nodes (genes) and 1766 edges. The primary network was then decomposed into 15 compacted modules (subnets) with high modularity by Newman's algorithm. Topological analysis of these modules identified a total of 58 hub genes, most of which (e.g., PCNA, CDK1, STAT1, CCL5, and MMP1) have been proved to be associated with NPC and/or OSCC, while the rest (e.g., MELK, NME1, RACGAP1, INHBA, and NID1) might be novel risk genes for the two diseases. Further bioinformatics analysis of KEGG databases revealed that these modules are involved in multiple pathogenic biological pathways for either NPC or OSCC (e.g., p53 signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and cell cycle). This study demonstrates that NPC and OSCC have similar molecular bases, and the identified pleiotropic modules may shape the complicated molecular interplays underlying the two clinically correlated diseases.