Oral Cancer News – Page 5 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

Partnership to boost oral cancer early detection

Source: www.bitemagazine.com.au Author: staff Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) has partnered with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to ensure general practitioners across Australia have the tools they need to detect oral cancer early and save lives. A national online learning resource has been launched on the RACGP website to empower its members to identify individuals at risk of oral cancer, detect the disease earlier through screening and have important prevention conversations with patients. In Australia, there are more than 4000 new cases of head, neck and lip cancers diagnosed every year and the majority of these are oral cancers. In 2022, there were an estimated 2642 cases of lip and oral cancers with this figure expected to rise in the coming years. Largely due to delayed presentation or diagnosis, oral cancer carries low survival rates, which is why the Victorian Government’s 2016-20 Cancer Plan established the Oral Cancer Screening and Prevention Program to boost prevention and early detection of this disease. Funded by the Victorian Government, the program is led by DHSV in partnership with the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, the Australian Dental Association (Victorian Branch) and the Victorian Department of Health. DHSV launched the Oral Cancer Learning Hub in 202—a practical and evidence-based resource that supports oral health professionals to recognise and refer suspected oral cancers in early stages for faster investigation, diagnosis and treatment. “Because GPs are often the first stop for Victorians seeking medical help, phase two of the program supports GPs to [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-11-15T15:10:04-07:00November, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

UK bioengineer designs tools to improve treatment for head and neck cancer

Source: uknow.uky.edu Author: Lindsay Travis One University of Kentucky researcher is working to develop new techniques for radiation treatment to improve survival rates of patients with a specific type of cancer. Caigang Zhu, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering. He is also a member of the Molecular and Cellular Oncology Research Program at the UK Markey Cancer Center. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Zhu a prestigious R01 grant of $2 million over five years to develop optical metabolic spectroscopy and imaging tools. Zhu is targeting head and neck squamous cell cancer. Squamous cells line the body's skin, mucous membranes and other tissues, including the mouth, throat and voice box. These types of cancers make up 4% of cases in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. “Cellular metabolism is highly dynamic and strongly influenced by its local vascular microenvironment, gaining a systems-level view of tumor metabolism and vasculature in vivo is essential in understanding many critical cancer biology questions,” said Zhu Currently, there are few techniques to help oncologists answer those questions. Zhu’s Spectroscopic Imaging Laboratory, in the Pigman College of Engineering and supported by Markey, hopes to make a difference. Researchers in the lab will develop a new device to quickly measure tumor properties using a special fiber and smart techniques to map the blood vessels connected to them. “The team will [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-11-15T15:02:23-07:00November, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Higher risk of 17 cancers after high BMI in late teens

Source: www.eurekalert.org Author: Peer-Reviewed Publication, University of Gothenburg Men who are overweight or obese at age 18 have a higher risk of 17 different cancers later in life. This has been shown in a study at the University of Gothenburg. The research also describes how the youth obesity epidemic is expected to affect the cancer situation over the next 30 years. In August, a study on higher cancer risk in men who had lower aerobic fitness recorded at the time of compulsory conscription for military service at the age of 18 was presented. The results were independent of any overweight or obesity at conscription. In two new studies published in the journals Obesity and Cancer Medicine, the same research team is now focusing on body mass index (BMI), while the results are independent of the participants' aerobic fitness level. And it turns out that higher BMI at age 18 can be linked to even more cancers later in life than poor fitness at the same age. High BMI at conscription was associated with a higher risk of 17 cancers: lung, head and neck, brain, thyroid, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, liver, colon, rectal, kidney, and bladder cancer, as well as malignant melanoma, leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma (both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's). Higher risk already at “normal” BMI For several of the cancer types, the risk was elevated already at a BMI of 20-22.4, within the usually used range of normal weight (18.5-24.9). These included cancers of the head and neck, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-11-09T06:33:35-07:00November, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Yes, really – the HPV vaccine is essential for men, too

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com Author: Rhod Gilbert Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert was diagnosed with stage four cancer last year. The cancer was in his head and neck and was caused by a virus known as HPV. HPV virus is often associated with cervical cancer and with good reason. The virus is responsible for over 15% of cases of cervical cancer. However, as Gilbert’s diagnosis proves, HPV can affect anybody. In his documentary, Rhod Gilbert: A Pain In The Neck For SU2C, the comic spoke about why he’d decided to invite a film crew to watch him experience treatment for his condition and HPV, it seems, was a huge part of the reason. Gilbert said: “I knew I wouldn’t be well enough to go on stage or TV, but I thought I might be well enough to lie in bed and talk to a documentary team about how ill I was. I thought, ‘It will give me something to do’. “Also, by that point, I’d found out my cancer had been caused by the HPV virus, something we vaccinate kids for. At every turn, I thought, ‘I can do something here, which might actually change things.’” Who the HPV vaccine is for According to the NHS, the HPV vaccine reduces your chances of getting the virus which is spread through skin contact – usually during sex, but not always. The vaccine protects against an increased risk of cervical, mouth, anal, and penile cancer. HPV can also cause genital warts. The vaccine is recommended [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-11-01T14:40:50-07:00November, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

FDA approves Loqtorz regimens for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Source: www.curetoday.com Author: Brielle Benyon The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Loqtorz (toripalimab-tpzi) plus cisplatin and gemcitabine for the frontline treatment of patients with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Loqtorz was also approved as a single agent for patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma that progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy, according to the agency. The approval for the Loqtorz/chemotherapy combination is based off findings from the JUPITER-02 trial, which involved 289 patients who had not received prior treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to receive Loqtorz plus cisplatin and gemcitabine, followed by Loqtorz or placebo with cisplatin and gemcitabine, followed by placebo. Findings showed that the Loqtorz-containing regimen had a better median progression-free survival (time from treatment until disease worsening or death) of 11.7 months, compared to eight months in the placebo group. Overall survival (time from treatment until death of any cause) was also improved with the Loqtorz group, with median overall survival not being reached in patients who received the Loqtorz regimen, meaning that not enough patients died for researchers to determine an average, while it was 33.7 months in the chemotherapy-only group. The single-agent approval is based off findings from the POLARIS-02 trial, which involved 172 patients with unresectable (disease that is unable to be removed via surgery) or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma that was previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy or had disease progression within six months of finishing platinum therapy. The main goal of the trial was overall response rate (percentage of [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-10-30T14:22:26-07:00October, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Yoga may reduce physical decline in HNC population receiving radiotherapy

Source: www.cancernetwork.com Author: Russ Conroy A yoga program that included caregivers may reduce adverse effects (AEs) associated with physical functioning decline in patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing treatment with radiotherapy, according to a news release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). "These results demonstrate that a focused yoga intervention can be successfully delivered in person or online not only to patients with cancer undergoing radiation therapy but also to their caregivers," according to Charu Aggarwal, MD, MPH, FASCO Findings from a study highlighted that 88% of patients assigned to the yoga intervention attended a minimum of 10 sessions, which included 13.1 sessions among those assigned to yoga with their caregiver and 13.3 sessions among patients assigned to yoga on their own. Investigators observed a significant effect on patient-reported physical function and nutrition among those participating in yoga intervention compared with those receiving usual care. There were significantly fewer feeding tubes placed for those in both yoga intervention groups compared with patients undergoing usual care. Additionally, investigators highlighted a marginally significant impact on emergency department visits among those who were included in the yoga intervention arm. There was not a significant effect for hospital admissions among patients assigned to the yoga program. “This study is one of the first to compare a patient-oriented behavioral intervention delivery to one that includes patients and their caregiver,” Kathrin Milbury, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Behavior Science at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-10-25T08:46:26-07:00October, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

High rate of severe oral mucositis after IMRT seen in head and neck cancer

Source: www.cancertherapyadvisor.com Author: Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA Many patients with head and neck cancer develop oral mucositis after intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), according to a single-center study published in JAMA Network Open. The study also showed that most cases of oral mucositis were severe, and increasing severity of mucositis was associated with a greater likelihood of feeding tube placement, hospitalization, and opiate use. The study included 576 patients who underwent definitive or adjuvant IMRT during 2015-2022. The Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire-Head and Neck Cancer survey was used to categorize the severity of mucositis and throat soreness. Nearly all patients (98.6%) had oral mucositis, and 62.5% developed severe oral mucositis. By the final week of IMRT, 48.6% of patients had difficulty drinking, 56.8% had difficulty swallowing, and 69.4% had difficulty eating. Most patients (76.8%) were consuming a pureed diet and/or had a feeding tube by the end of IMRT. The median time to placing a feeding tube was 32 days from starting IMRT. The proportion of patients with nonprophylactic feeding tube placement was 16.4% of those with severe oral mucositis and 5.6% of those without severe mucositis (P

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-10-25T08:24:54-07:00October, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

White lesions of the oral cavity and oral-systemic health: A review for the dental hygienist

Source: www.rdhmag.com Authors: Ben F. Warner, DDS, MD, MS, Cleverick “C.D.” Johnson, DDS, MS, Gary N. Frey, DDS, Michele White, DDS This review of oral white lesions and their identifying factors can be a guide for dental hygienists to determine whether referral to a specialist is necessary. A complete, periodic oral exam plays a vital role in evaluating the overall health of dental patients. New and established patients’ well-being can be supported by their relationship with the dental team. Any new or existing leukoplakia-type findings can be biopsied, identified, monitored, or referred for appropriate care. These lesions are characterized as white patches or plaques that “cannot be wiped off and cannot otherwise be described clinically as any other disease.”1 Discerning whether an oral white lesion is of concern is dental health-care professionals’ duty. While the majority of oral leukoplakia presents without symptoms and few patients complain of discomfort, a thorough medical history and oral exam are necessary to assure oral health. Dental hygienists are strategically positioned to support optimum patient health by observing relevant clinical findings. We conducted a literature review of commonly found oral white lesions for this article. Dental professionals can observe the clinical features of these lesions and distinguish those that need referral to a health-care specialist. The following are examples of commonly found white lesions observed in the oral cavity. Frictional keratosis Frictional keratosis (figure 1) is a white keratotic lesion on the oral mucosa that results from a chronic mechanical friction by various oral irritants [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-10-21T06:45:15-07:00October, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Researchers develop innovative technique for distinguishing tumor from normal tissue

Source: www.eurekalert.org Author: Mass General Brigham Researchers develop innovative technique for distinguishing tumor from normal tissue The visual and quantitative techniques used – including high-speed cameras to detect changes occurring in a billionth of a second - had an accuracy of 97% across tumor types (liver, brain, tongue, skin, breast, bone and soft tissue) The images show clusters of colorectal cells metastasized to the liver, resected from a patient at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) The cells are visible as red, which means longer lifetime, against a background of normal liver tissue in blue/green Mass General Brigham investigators tested their approach using specimens from multiple cancer types, including liver, brain, tongue, skin, breast, bone and soft tissue Their visual and quantitative technique, which combines an injected FDA-approved drug with high-speed cameras to detect changes occurring in a billionth of a second, had an accuracy of 97% across tumor types Removing a patient’s tumor while sparing healthy tissue requires exquisite precision, but often surgeons must rely on their eyes and hands to determine where to cut. A team led by researchers from Mass General Brigham has developed a visualization tool that combines high-speed cameras and fluorescent injection to distinguish tumor tissue from normal tissue across cancer types. The team evaluated the new imaging technology, known as fluorescence lifetime (FLT) imaging, using specimens from more than 60 patients that underwent surgery of various cancers. In a paper published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the team reported that the technique was over 97 [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-10-17T13:57:00-07:00October, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Oral microbiome connected with mouth sore severity In patients with head and neck cancer

Source: www.curetoday.com Author: Alex Biese Among patients with squamous cell head and neck carcinoma, oral microbiome is associated with severity of oral mucositis (OM), an after-effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy which effects nearly all patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), according to recent study findings from a team at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Our study suggests that the oral microbiome plays an important role in the longitudinal patterns of OM and the potential interaction between the oral microenvironment and the development of OM in patients with HNC,” the researchers wrote in a study published in the journal Cancer. Drawing on data from 142 adult patients — 91% male, with an average age of 57.6 years and a mean BMI of 29.1, 80% of whom had oropharyngeal carcinoma and 75% of whom received chemoradiation — newly diagnosed with locoregional squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who were treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center between March 2016 and September 2020, researchers collected samples from patients at the baseline prior to treatment, weekly during treatment, during the clinic visit at the conclusion of treatment and after the termination of treatment. The American Academy of Oral Medicine cites high-dose chemotherapy and localized high-dose radiation therapy to the head and neck region as the main risk factors for developing painful mouth sores also referred to as oral mucositis. “These treatments effectively target the rapidly dividing cancer cells, but also inadvertently affect normal healthy cells that rapidly turnover, such [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-10-07T07:09:03-07:00October, 2023|Oral Cancer News|