Oral Cancer News – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

Fighting oral cancer with bioengineered chewing gum

Written by: Deborah Stull Research led by Penn Dental’s Henry Daniell shows that antiviral and antibacterial chewing gums reduce the levels of three microbes linked to worse outcomes in oral cancers, paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies. esearchers led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine have shown that extracts from bioengineered chewing gum reduce the levels of three microbes known to be associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies. Their findings are published in Scientific Reports. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common cancer that develops in the lining of the mouth and throat. It can be aggressive and often has poor outcomes, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages, says Daniell. He notes that most recently approved cancer drugs have not significantly improved quality-of-life or five-year survival rates, underscoring the need for better therapies. Building from their previous work using a chewing gum made from lablab beans (bean gum) containing the naturally antiviral protein FRIL, Daniell and colleagues examined the levels of three microbes linked to cancer—human papilloma virus, or HPV, and two species of bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn)—in oral samples from patients with HNSCC. “The global increase in oropharyngeal cancer is linked to HPV infection,” says Daniell. “And Pg and Fn infections worsen survival rates of untreated recurrent or metastatic oral cancer, even after surgery and risk-adjusted adjuvant, or supplemental, therapies.” They found that bean gum extracts reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva [...]

Webmaster2026-06-11T12:39:45-07:00June, 2026|Oral Cancer News|

In Memoriam: Brian Hill

The Oral Cancer Foundation mourns the passing of Brian Hill, our co-founder and a tireless advocate for patients, survivors, and families affected by oral cancer. Together with his late wife, Ingrid Hill, Brian helped establish the Oral Cancer Foundation, whose vision is rooted in compassion, education, advocacy, and support. What began as a deeply personal mission became a lasting source of guidance and hope for countless individuals facing one of life’s most difficult challenges. Brian devoted much of his life to ensuring that people impacted by oral cancer would never have to face the disease alone. Through the online support community at oralcancersupport.org, he helped create a trusted space where patients and caregivers could ask questions, share experiences, find encouragement, and connect with others who truly understood their journey. For many, that community became a lifeline — a place of comfort, knowledge, and reassurance during some of their most difficult moments. His work was defined not only by commitment but also by humanity. Brian understood that oral cancer affects far more than just the body. He recognized the fear, uncertainty, and emotional burden that often accompany diagnosis and treatment, and he gave his time and energy to helping others navigate those realities with dignity, compassion, and support. Brian’s legacy lives on in the foundation he helped build, in the online community he helped foster, and in the many lives he touched through his kindness, leadership, and unwavering dedication to others. His contributions to the oral cancer community will continue to [...]

Webmaster2026-04-01T13:52:03-07:00April, 2026|OCF In The News|

An urgent argument for the HPV vaccine

Source: NPR Chris Riley's symptoms started in the summer of 2021. At first, he didn't think much about them. His throat felt a little sore, and he noticed hardening of his lymph nodes. At 57 years old, Riley was active and healthy. He biked everywhere and didn't even own a car. Riley, it turned out, had oropharyngeal cancer, which develops in the tonsils or throat. In Riley's case, it had originated in his left tonsil, but by the time it was discovered — after visits to a dentist, a general practitioner, and an ear, nose and throat specialist — it had spread to his lymph nodes. The cause, according to his doctors, was human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a virus that can live and replicate in certain cells on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes, including the inner lining of the mouth, throat and genitals. While over 200 types of the virus exist, only a few can lead to cancer, usually many years or decades after exposure. Nearly everyone who isn't vaccinated against HPV will be infected at some point, though 9 out of 10 infections resolve within two years. Passed from person to person through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual activity, HPV is best known for causing cervical cancer, which kills about 4,000 people in the United States every year. But the virus can also lead to warts and other malignancies, including cancer of the throat, anus and genitalia — it's linked to six types of cancers in total. [...]

Webmaster2025-03-12T19:06:18-07:00March, 2025|Oral Cancer News|

The widespread application of trans-oral robotic surgery in HPV-related head and neck cancer: one size does not fit all

Over the past years, trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) has gained momentum and wide applicability in the treatment of early-stage low-risk HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). This is in large part due to initial large single-institution series documenting good clinical outcomes using this approach. This culminated in the design and execution of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial 3311 (E3311) that provided a framework for applying this modality in the management of predominantly low-risk HPV-related OPSCC. Even though results from E3311 have been widely adopted as the guide to implementing TORS in this disease, it is noteworthy that significant care in planning surgical aspects of the trial implementation took place. Namely, sites were mandated to implement a quality assurance process through documentation of surgical credentialing. Vetting the accruing ECOG3311 surgeons appeared to minimize complications related to critical aspects of the study. In addition, one has to account for a certain selection bias when patients are enrolled in a clinical trial. If an experienced TORS surgeon has not assessed the patient as a surgical candidate and documented eligibility, there is an increased likelihood of affecting the reported rate of complications. Complications from TORS can be major, such as the rare and idiosyncratic yet real risk for severe postoperative bleeding, which puts patients at risk of death without feeding arterial vessel ligation. Among other complications that have not been systematically tracked in prior studies is reduced swallowing function, which may vary with volume and location of resected tissue, as well as availability and adherence [...]

OCF News Team - B2024-12-23T10:59:28-07:00December, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

Exploring the link between HPV infection and head and neck cancers

Source: www.targetedonc.com Author: Jordyn Sava In an interview with Targeted Oncology for Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, Noel Laudi, MD, MRCP, discussed the link between human papillomavirus infection and head and neck cancers. There is a complex relationship that exists between human papillomavirus (HPV) and head and neck cancers. According to Noel Laudi, MD, MRCP, “no one is immune to HPV-related head and neck cancers, with certain demographics at higher risk.” Common areas of occurrence for HPV-related head and neck cancer are in the mouth, including tonsils, soft palate, oropharynx, and base of tongue. HPV can cause cancer by staying in the system for 1 to 3 years and affecting lymphatic tissue in fertile areas of the mouth. HPV-related head and neck cancers often present late due to silent growth. Those at a higher risk of developing HPV-related head and neck cancer include those with more sexual partners and those exposed to oral sex. Additionally, smoking increases the risk of cancer for those with HPV, creating a double risk with the virus and smoke. Laudi, of Allina Health Cancer Institute, emphasized that the HPV vaccine is effective in preventing these cancers, with the ideal age for vaccination being around 11 to 13 years old. However, there is an unmet need for better screening methods and higher vaccination rates of children to prevent HPV-related cancers. “I think the vaccine has been a huge move in the right direction. The treatment is very tough, and if we can prevent the cancer [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-04-26T14:00:35-07:00April, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

Head and neck cancer surgeons test fluorescent dye for marking nerves

Source: web.musc.edu Author: Leslie Cantu Alexandra Kejner, M.D., right, operates using the Alume Biosciences nerve visualization dye. Photo provided Head and neck cancer surgeons at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center are excited about the possibilities of a new nerve fluorescing product they’re testing in a phase III clinical trial. Developed by Alume Biosciences, the product is a dye that combines a fluorescing molecule with a peptide that binds to nerves, illuminating them to make them easier for surgeons to spot. “Taking the tumor out is easy – finding the nerve and making sure you save the nerve is the critical part. This is a trial to help determine if using this dye during surgery improves the ability of surgeons to visualize and preserve nerves,” said Jason Newman, M.D., Head and Neck Cancer Division director. Some areas of the body have more nerves than others, and the head and neck area is one where many small nerves control critical functions. “I always tell patients, ‘If we take out a tumor in your cheek, that could be a three-hour surgery. If you took the same tumor out of the skin of your back, it could be a 10-minute surgery right in the office. And the difference is that the nerve that moves your entire face is there on the cheek,’” Newman said. Alexandra Kejner, M.D., was the first at Hollings to use the product, on a patient who needed a total thyroidectomy. “During that surgery, we’re monitoring the recurrent laryngeal nerve [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-04-24T06:08:17-07:00April, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

Researchers discover urine-based test to detect head and neck cancer

Source: www.newswise.com Author: Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Researchers from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have created a urine-based test that detects pieces of DNA fragments released by head and neck tumors. The test could potentially facilitate early detection of this cancer type, which currently does not have a reliable screening method. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is widely recognized for causing cervical cancer, but is increasingly found to cause cancers in the mouth, throat and other head and neck regions. Early detection is critical because detecting a cancer at an earlier stage can lead to better outcomes for patients. Using whole genome sequencing, the Rogel group showed that cell-free DNA fragments released by tumor cells, which are passed on from the bloodstream into urine through the kidneys, are predominantly ultra-short, with fewer than 50 base pairs. Given their small size, these fragments are likely to be missed using conventional urine or blood-based liquid biopsy tests in detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). The research was led by Muneesh Tewari, M.D., Ph.D., professor of hematology and oncology, J. Chad Brenner, Ph.D., associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and Paul L. Swiecicki, M.D., associate medical director for the Oncology Clinical Trials Support Unit at Rogel. Initial results are published in JCI Insight. “In this study we provide evidence to support the hypothesis that conventional assays do not detect ultrashort fragments found in urine, since they are designed to target longer DNA fragments. Our team used an unconventional approach to [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-04-17T05:52:41-07:00April, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

Insilico Medicine’s AI-driven approach yields promising PTPN2/N1 inhibitor for cancer immunotherapy

Source: www.news-medical.ne Author: InSilico Medicine staff In recent years, cancer immunotherapy, exemplified by PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 blockade, has made remarkable advances. But while immunotherapy drugs offer new treatment possibilities, only about 20% to 40% of patients respond to these treatments. The majority either don't respond or develop drug resistance. Researchers are now looking for ways to enhance the scope of tumor immunotherapy in order to benefit a wider range of patients. One such avenue is through the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2) and its close superfamily member, PTPN1, identified in previous research as crucial modulators involved in the regulation of immune cells signaling pathways that promote tumorigenesis by attenuating tumor-directed immunity. While promising, the development of PTPN2/PTPN1 inhibitors has faced challenges as a result of unfavorable pharmacokinetics due to the highly cationic active site and the relatively shallow nature of the protein surface. In a significant milestone, researchers at Abbvie discovered the dual PTPN2/N1 inhibitor ABBV-CLS-484 through structure-based drug design and optimization of drug-like properties. Now, clinical stage artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company Insilico Medicine ("Insilico") has initiated a program with a fast-follow strategy to design a novel PTPN2/N1 inhibitor with drug-likeness properties and in vivo oral absorption, supported by the Company's generative AI drug design engine Chemistry42. The research was published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry on April 5. Scientists inputted the structure of the known PTPN2/N1 inhibitor as a reference compound to Chemistry42 as a starting point and generated a series [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-04-15T07:40:06-07:00April, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

The growing role for cfHPV-DNA testing in OPSCC therapeutic development

Source: www.biopharmadive.com Author: Sysmex Inostics,sponsored content Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a key role in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Approximately 80% of all OPSCC cases in the U.S. are associated with HPV.1 In fact, the incidence of HPV-associated OPSCC in men has surpassed that of cervical cancer in women, making OPSCC the most common cancer caused by HPV in the U.S.2 As pharmaceutical companies seek to develop targeted therapeutics for HPV-associated cancers, access to robust biomarkers can prove invaluable for drug development. cfHPV-DNA in plasma meets this need and represents an attractive biomarker for grading treatment response and recurrence surveillance. Here, we’ll discuss the growing role for cfHPV-DNA as a biomarker in developing novel therapeutics targeting HPV-associated OPSCC and how HPV-SEQ — a quantitative, ultrasensitive test for cfHPV-DNA — can be leveraged during development for such therapies. The rise of cfHPV-DNA as a biomarker for HPV-associated OPSCC It has long been known that HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers shed HPV-DNA into the circulatory system. However, drug developers now have an opportunity to not only detect but also quantify cfHPV-DNA in plasma to assess the effectiveness of therapeutics during development. “With real-time insights, you can get a very keen sense of how the tumor is responding to intervention during a clinical trial, including de-escalation clinical trials,” explained Nishant Agrawal, MD, co-director, head and neck surgical oncology at University of Chicago Medicine. “In the past, measuring responses has taken months or even years. But with cfHPV-DNA testing, you can do it [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-04-15T07:30:24-07:00April, 2024|Oral Cancer News|

‘Paradoxical’ data show routine imaging lacks benefit for head and neck cancer survivors

Source: www.healio.com Author: Matthew Shinkle Key takeaways: Researchers saw no statistical difference between patient groups with respect to treatment outcomes. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate this study’s findings. Compared with expectant management, imaging-based surveillance did not improve outcomes among patients in remission after completion of primary radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, according to data published in JAMA Network Open. Although imaging “in the context of clinical suspicion” for this specific patient population is common and typically beneficial, according to researchers, the results of this study show that such a practice is not valuable for asymptomatic patients. “The results of the present study, while seemingly paradoxical, are consistent with those of others which have failed to demonstrate a benefit to surveillance imaging among patients who have successfully completed treatment for head and neck cancer,” Allen M. Chen, MD, MBA, professor and chair of the department of radiation oncology at University of California, Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and researchers wrote. Researchers conducted a retrospective, comparative effectiveness review to evaluate the potential benefit of surveillance imaging among asymptomatic patients with head and neck cancer currently in remission following completion of chemoradiation. The study included 340 adults (59% men; 43% white) who had achieved a complete metabolic response to initial treatment for newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck between January 2014 and June 2022. Researchers defined surveillance imaging as the acquisition of a PET with CT, MRI or CT of the head and neck [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2024-03-14T16:33:37-07:00March, 2024|Oral Cancer News|