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Purpose of ReviewSinonasal cancers are a heterogenous group of rare cancers for which histopathological diagnosis can be very challenging and treatment options are limited for advanced disease in particular. Here, we review the candidacy of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for sinonasal cancers.Recent FindingsMolecular multidimensional analyses of sinonasal cancers have been lagging behind other major cancers, but there are numerous publications describing the discovery of novel candidate biomarkers, e.g. the methylation classifier, originally developed for brain cancers, and gene expression panels for the prediction of response to induction chemotherapy in sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. The most promising biomarkers are summarized and discussed further with regard to their clinical applicability and future potential.SummaryMany of the described novel biomarkers for sinonasal cancers will eventually overcome the pitfalls associated with the frequently non-specific immunohistological tests. With comprehensive, multidimensional molecular testing of these tumours in collaborative consortia projects, our better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of sinonasal cancers and their carcinogenesis will determine the most useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, allow stringent multi-institutional validation and guide trials on targeted therapies.

Olfactory neuroblastoma/esthesioneuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon neuroectodermal neoplasm thought to arise from the olfactory epithelium. Little is known about its molecular pathogenesis. For this study, a retrospective cohort of n  = 66 tumor samples with the institutional diagnosis of ONB was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, genome-wide DNA methylation profiling, copy number analysis, and in a subset, next-generation panel sequencing of 560 tumor-associated genes. DNA methylation profiles were compared to those of relevant differential diagnoses of ONB. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of DNA methylation data revealed four subgroups among institutionally diagnosed ONB. The largest group ( n  = 42, 64%, Core ONB) presented with classical ONB histology and no overlap with other classes upon methylation profiling-based t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) analysis. A second DNA methylation group ( n  = 7, 11%) with CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) consisted of cases with strong expression of cytokeratin, no or scarce chromogranin A expression and IDH2 hotspot mutation in all cases. T-SNE analysis clustered these cases together with sinonasal carcinoma with IDH2 mutation. Four cases (6%) formed a small group characterized by an overall high level of DNA methylation, but without CIMP. The fourth group consisted of 13 cases that had heterogeneous DNA methylation profiles and strong cytokeratin expression in most cases. In t-SNE analysis, these cases mostly grouped among sinonasal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma. Copy number analysis indicated highly recurrent chromosomal changes among Core ONB with a high frequency of combined loss of chromosome 1–4, 8–10, and 12. NGS sequencing did not reveal highly recurrent mutations in ONB, with the only recurrently mutated genes being TP53 and DNMT3A . In conclusion, we demonstrate that institutionally diagnosed ONB are a heterogeneous group of tumors. Expression of cytokeratin, chromogranin A, the mutational status of IDH2 as well as DNA methylation patterns may greatly aid in the precise classification of ONB.

Purpose of Review We assess the literature on the pharmacokinetics, indications, important considerations, and effectiveness of long-term, low-dose macrolide antibiotics in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Recent Findings The key to effective implementation of macrolide therapy in CRS is appropriate patient selection. Macrolides have demonstrated the most benefit in Th1-mediated non-eosinophilic CRS when used for durations of at least 3 months. Summary Macrolide antibiotics have demonstrated great benefit when used for their anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory properties, which include the blockage of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). They have been used in CRS patients not responding to traditional corticosteroid-based treatment regimens, but appear to be most effective specifically in Th1-mediated non-eosinophilic CRS in long durations and low doses. Further research is needed to better identify characteristics known to correlate with macrolide response so early directed therapy can be implemented.

A paucity of evidence regarding use of endoscopic sinus surgery and antibiotics in managing chronic rhinosinusitis has contributed to a five-times variation in endoscopic sinus surgery rates, as well as variation in the use of antibiotics. The main aim of the present trial was to compare the clinical effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery or 3 months of clarithromycin treatment alongside intranasal medication in adults with chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps. In this pragmatic, three-arm, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 4 trial, participants were recruited from 20 secondary and tertiary care sites in the UK. Adults (aged ≥18 years) with chronic rhinosinusitis remaining symptomatic following appropriate medical therapy (intranasal corticosteroids, saline nasal irrigations, and a short course of antibiotics) were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive endoscopic sinus surgery (within 6 weeks of randomisation if waiting lists allowed) plus intranasal medication, clarithromycin (250 mg twice a day for 2 weeks then 250 mg once a day for 10 weeks) plus intranasal medication, or placebo plus intranasal medication. Intranasal medication comprised intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigations. Participants were allocated with an automated, web-based secure randomisation system in permuted blocks of varying size (block sizes of three and six), stratified by the presence of polyps and trial site. Participants and site teams were masked to the clarithromycin and placebo allocations, including for outcome assessment. The primary outcome measure was the total score on the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) quality-of-life questionnaire at 6 months after randomisation, with analysis by intention to treat (ITT; available-case basis). Adverse reactions were assessed in the safety population (clarithromycin and placebo), and serious adverse events in the ITT population (all groups). The trial was registered on the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN36962030, and EudraCT, 2018-001100-11, and is complete, with optional long-term follow-up ongoing. Between Nov 1, 2018, and Oct 13, 2023, 514 participants (181 [35%] female and 333 [65%] male), with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (n=410) or chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (n=104), were recruited and randomly assigned to receive endoscopic sinus surgery (n=171), clarithromycin (n=172), or placebo (n=171), all with intranasal medication. SNOT-22 scores at 6 months after randomisation were significantly lower (at the 98·33% confidence level after Bonferroni adjustment) in the endoscopic sinus surgery group than in the clarithromycin group (adjusted mean difference –18·13 [98·33% CI –24·26 to –11·99], p<0·0001) and placebo group (–20·44 [–26·42 to –14·46], p<0·0001). 6-month SNOT-22 scores did not differ significantly between participants randomly assigned to clarithromycin versus placebo (–3·11 [–8·56 to 2·33], p=0·17). Ten serious adverse events occurred in nine participants (two events in two [1%] of 172 participants allocated to clarithromycin, three events in three [2%] of 171 allocated to placebo, and five events in four [2%] of 171 allocated to endoscopic sinus surgery), none of which were fatal. The MACRO trial shows that endoscopic sinus surgery has clinical effectiveness in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, providing significantly improved disease-specific quality of life at 6 months. Conversely, the trial findings do not support routine long-term use of low-dose clarithromycin. Endoscopic sinus surgery should be recommended if intranasal medication alone is unable to achieve symptom control. National Institute for Health and Care Research Programme Grants for Applied Research.

Parosmia is a qualitative olfactory disorder characterised by a distorted perception of smell, often experienced as unpleasant or offensive. Although parosmia has multiple aetiologies, post-viral parosmia has become increasingly prevalent following the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK, post-viral parosmia affects an estimated 637 836 individuals and has a substantial negative impact on quality of life and mood. At present, there is no licensed or standardised treatment for this condition. Gabapentin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid analogue with neuromodulatory properties, has shown potential benefits at low doses in small, non-randomised studies; however, its efficacy requires further evaluation. Use of Gabapentin in the Management of Post-Viral Parosmia: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Site Trial (COPANOS) is a phase III, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial comparing gabapentin with placebo in adults aged 18-65 years with post-viral parosmia persisting for ≥6 months and <5 years. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to receive gabapentin, titrated to a maximum dose of 600 mg daily or a matching placebo for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the between-group difference in mean parosmia severity scores at the end of treatment (week 8), measured using the parosmia domain of the validated Smell-Qx questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include quality of life (Smell- Qx), olfactory function assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks test battery, safety and tolerability and objective parosmia severity measured with the Sniffin' Sticks Parosmia Test (SSParoT). The trial will recruit 90 participants across two UK sites. The results will provide robust preliminary evidence on the efficacy and safety of low-dose gabapentin for managing post-viral parosmia and will inform the feasibility and design of targeted treatment guidelines. Defining effective treatment for post-viral parosmia is essential given the significant impact on patient well-being and the absence of current evidence-based interventions. The trial protocol has been reviewed and approved by Health Research Authority (HRA) and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW): 25/WA/0298, 21/10/2025. Results will be analysed and published as soon as possible following trial completion. Findings will be summarised on the study webpage and shared with trial participants in plain English. Trial results will also be uploaded to relevant trial registries within 12 months of trial completion. The Rosetrees Trust will be acknowledged in all publications. Publications will follow International Committee of Medical Journal Editors authorship guidelines, and professional medical writers will not be used. ISRCTN82171427, IRAS 1012783.

Sinonasal cancer treatment confers extensive and diverse sequela, which may persist for months to years after treatment or manifest as late effects. Furthermore, recurrences are common for some subtypes and may occur beyond five years post-treatment of the initial malignancy. Altogether, these can place a substantial physical, psychosocial, and economic burden on the survivor. Due to the rarity of these cancers, there are limited data to comprehensively elucidate the landscape of treatment-related morbidity in the long term. Furthermore, survivors may lack awareness of the entirety of possible adverse effects, which may exacerbate their long-term psychosocial well-being and quality of life, and delay attainment of appropriate care. To enable the development of patient education strategies and provide clinicians with up-to-date, evidence-based information on the long-term and/or late morbidity associated with sinonasal cancer treatment, a comprehensive review was performed. There is a wide range of issues that survivors face, both due to the sinonasal cancer itself and as a result of the treatment, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary survivorship care. Importantly, survivorship care will greatly benefit from patient and public involvement, alongside input from medical, surgical, and allied health professionals, to ensure that all aspects of care are addressed throughout the survivor journey.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor, most commonly located in the pharyngeal recess and endemic to parts of Asia. It is often detected at a late stage which is associated with poor prognosis (5-year survival rate of 63%). Treatment for this malignancy relies predominantly on radiotherapy and/or systemic chemotherapy, which can be associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. In endemic regions NPC is associated with infection by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) which was shown to upregulate the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) cell surface receptor. With recent advances in molecular techniques allowing for an improved understanding of the molecular aetiology of this disease and its relation to SSTR2 expression, we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of this disease and highlight the emergence of SSTR2 as a key tumor biomarker and promising target for imaging and therapy.

Background: Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is an extremely rare, high-grade, and aggressive tumor of the sinonasal tract. Due to the rarity of this malignancy, current treatment guidelines are based on small and often/mainly single-center retrospective datasets. In the absence of a universally accepted standard of care for SNUC, treatment approaches vary across countries and institutions, reflecting real-world clinical practice. The primary aim of this study was to describe real-world treatment and outcomes for patients with confirmed SNUC. Methods: This was an international, multi-center, retrospective, observational cohort study that pooled patients into the largest SNUC dataset to date. Fifteen centers were enrolled to contribute data, including seven from Europe, four from the United States, three from the United Kingdom, and one from Canada. In the absence of a universally accepted standard of care for SNUC, treatment approaches varied across countries and institutions, reflecting real-world clinical practice. Patients included were those with histologically confirmed SNUC who were treated between 1997 and 2021. Results: This study yielded 485 patients treated for SNUC. The median age at diagnosis was 55.6 years (IQR: 44.5–67.6), and 63.7% were male. Most cases presented at advanced stages, with 70.8% as T4a or T4b. Overall survival (OS) outcomes were available for 412 patients, with a median follow-up of 26.0 months. The 5- and 10-year OS were 47.2% (95% CI: 40.8–53.3%) and 39.6% (95% CI: 32.5–46.6%), respectively. Advanced age, dichotomized T-stage (T4a/b vs. T1–3), M-stage, and orbital involvement were significant poor prognostic factors on univariable analysis (p’s < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, orbital involvement (HR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.42–5.27, p = 0.003) and distance metastasis stage (HR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.25–7.21, p = 0.014) were both independently associated with worse OS. Conclusions: This observational study presents the largest multi-center cohort analysis of SNUC to date, providing new insights into prognostic factors for a rare cancer treated at global centers of excellence. Orbital involvement and the presence of metastases are candidate independent risk factors associated with poorer OS.

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. It is currently uncertain if treatment in patients with CRS with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP) has any impact on improving mental health outcomes. The aims here were to document anxiety and depression in patients with severe CRS and asthma already treated with appropriate medical therapy. We then evaluated whether further maximal treatment with omalizumab improved anxiety and/or depression alongside improvements in CRS and coassociated asthma. Methods Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores along with measures of CRS and asthma severity were recorded according to CRSwNP and CRSsNP status in n = 95 patients with severe CRS and asthma. Of this group, a further n = 23 had omalizumab for associated allergic asthma. Follow‐up measures were collected 16 weeks after omalizumab treatment. Results HADS anxiety and depression prevalence in CRS were 49.47 % and 38.95%, respectively. Within the CRSwNP and CRSsNP group 53.06% and 45.66% had raised HADS‐anxiety scores. Abnormal HADS‐depression scores were present in 40.82% and 36.95% of the CRSwNP and CRSsNP groups, respectively. Correlations for sinonasal outcome test‐22 (SNOT‐22) versus HADS total was r = 0.59 p < 0.0001, HADS‐anxiety r = 0.56 p < 0.0001 and HADS‐depression r = 0.49 p < 0.0001. Omalizumab improved anxiety in CRS (p < 0.0001) regardless of nasal polyp status (CRSwNP p = 0.0042 and CRSsNP p = 0.0078). Depression scores did not improve in either group. SNOT‐22 (p = 0.0006), asthma control questionnaire‐7 (p = 0.0019) and mini‐asthma quality of life questionnaire including emotional function (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0009, respectively) all improved in both subgroups. Conclusion In CRS and asthma, anxiety scores but not depression improved after omalizumab treatment. Anxiety may be closely related to airway disease severity, but depression may be independent of airway disease itself. If so, a separate mental health care pathway is needed for CRS patients with depression.