Oral Cancer News

Source: RDHmag
Author: Staff

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–OralDNA Labs , a leader in advancing wellness in dentistry through salivary diagnostics and a subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, recently introduced a OraRisk HPV test.

The test is a noninvasive, screening tool to identify the type(s) of oral human papillomavirus (also called HPV). Oral HPV is a mucosal viral infection that is a known risk factor for oral, head, and neck cancers.

High-risk types of HPV that persist present an increased risk for cancers in these regions. This test will provide the dental clinician with the ability to establish risk for HPV-related cancers of the oral, head, and neck regions, and determine appropriate referral and monitoring conditions.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, which can be found in the oral cavity, tongue, tonsils, oropharynx, and larynx, affects approximately 40,000 individuals in the United States each year.

The most common symptoms of SCCHN include sore throat, earache, hoarseness–and often–enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. Early detection of oral HPV presents an important opportunity to detect those at risk for these types of cancers before symptoms appear.

According to OralDNA Labs’ Medical Director Ronald C. McGlennen, MD, “The availability of the OraRisksm HPV test marks an important and timely advance in oral diagnostics, because the at-risk profile for oral cancer is rapidly changing.”

The use of tobacco and heavy alcohol consumption has traditionally been considered to be the primary risk factor for SCCHN, but an alarming number of new cases are being diagnosed each year among persons who do not fit the tobacco and alcohol user profile.

“In fact, a new high-risk profile for SCCHN has emerged,” explained Dr. McGlennen. “Recent research studies have identified several high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus, especially the variant known as HPV-16, as potential etiologic agents in the development of SCCHN.”

It is now estimated that 50% of all diagnosed cases of oral cancer in the United States are attributed to the HPV virus. It has been well documented that HPV transmission is associated with sexual contact with the risk of contracting HPV higher among those with multiple sex partners.

“Oral HPV is a silent, serious infection that can now be detected and closely monitored by the dental professional,” stated OralDNA Labs’ Chief Dental Officer, Thomas W. Nabors, DDS.

“Specifically, the laboratory report derived from the OraRisksm HPV salivary diagnostic test helps dental professionals identify the specific types(s) of oral HPV present, as well as the associated risk profile for each type of HPV variant detected in the patient’s oral cavity.”

Strong candidates for the OraRisksm HPV test include patients with the following profile characteristics:

* Sexually active
* Family history of oral cancer
* Signs and symptoms of oral cancer
* Traditional risk factors for oral cancer
* Suspicious oral lesions

Salivary diagnostic tests from OralDNA Labs are fundamental elements of a patient’s wellness plan. OraRisksm HPV is the third molecular salivary DNA test that OralDNA Labs has introduced to the dental profession in less than a year. In 2009, the company launched two tests for periodontal disease named MyPerioPath and MyPerioID PST.

Specifically, MyPerioPath identifies the type and concentration of specific perio-pathogenic bacteria that are known to cause periodontal disease and helps support clinicians with better risk assessment and personalized treatment options for more predictable patient outcomes.

MyPerioID PST identifies an individual’s genetic susceptibility to periodontal disease and enables clinicians to establish which patients are at increased risk for more severe periodontal infections due to an exaggerated immune response.