8/23/2006 Iowa City, IA staff CancerConsultants.com According to an article published in The Lancet, fractionated radiation therapy improves survival over conventional radiation therapy for patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer originates in sites within the head or neck. The American Cancer Society estimated that 11,000 individuals died from head and neck cancer in the United States in 2005. The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous cell head and neck cancer, which refers to the type of cell from which the cancer originated. Radiation therapy remains an important component in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Researchers continue to evaluate optimal types of radiation delivery and schedules for the treatment of this disease. Hyperfractionated radiation therapy refers to radiation therapy that is given two to three times per day, versus the conventional once-per-day dosing. Hyperfractionated radiation therapy utilizes smaller doses with each administration than doses used with the once-daily administration. Accelerated radiation therapy refers to radiation that is administered over a shorter duration of time than conventional radiation. The doses with hyperfractionated or accelerated radiation therapy may be increased overall, may stay equal, or may be reduced compared to conventional radiation therapy. Researchers on behalf of the Meta-Analysis of Radiotherapy in Carcinomas of Head and Neck (MARCH) Collaborative Group recently compiled and analyzed data from 15 clinical trials evaluating different radiation schedules and doses for the treatment of squamous cell head and neck cancer. The majority of patients had advanced [...]

8/23/2006 Chicago, IL John Otrompke www.docguide.com The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Celexa (citalopram) shows efficacy in treating depression in patients with recently-diagnosed head and neck cancer, according to research presented here at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS). "Depression is a significant problem: it decreases immune function, adherence to therapy, and the ability of patients to seek medical attention, and it may even decrease survival," said Bill Lydiatt, MD, associate professor, head and neck surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. Previous studies have shown that 19% of all hospital suicides in cancer patients occur in those with head and neck cancer, who make up 2% to 3% of all cancer patients, said Dr. Lydiatt, who presented scientific the findings at the conference on August 18th. The high suicide rate among head and neck cancer patients occurs because the disease "impairs the most basic aspects of your humanity, including speech, swallowing, and facial appearance," he explained. In the study, 36 subjects with head and neck cancer were randomized to Celexa or placebo, and 23 completed the 12-weeks of treatment. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Collateral Source Geriatric Depression Scale. At 12 weeks, 50% of patients in the placebo group experienced clinically significant depression compared with 15% in the Celexa group. Two patients in the placebo arm experienced suicidal ideation compared with none in the Celexa arm. At 12 weeks, 50% of those in [...]

8/23/2006 Providence, RI staff Life Science News (news.biocompare.com) A particular enzyme is significantly higher in cancer cells that have been exposed to acid, leading to the overproduction of hydrogen peroxide, and offering a possible explanation for how acid reflux may lead to cancer of the esophagus, according to a recent study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The study found that the enzyme NOX5-S is affected by exposure to acid and that it produces stress on cells, activating genes that lead to DNA damage. For the first time, researchers have outlined the signaling pathway from cells damaged by acid, to the progression of esophageal cancer. They believe the same process may happen in the body when cells are exposed to acid reflux. "The role of acid is controversial. But we show that by exposing cells to acid for short periods of time, that affects a particular enzyme, triggering a chain of events that possibly leads to cancer of the esophagus. Now that we have a better understanding of the signaling pathway, we can possibly identify who is at risk of developing cancer by determining the levels of this enzyme," says senior author Weibiao Cao, a researcher at Rhode Island Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine and surgery at Brown Medical School. The study looked at human cancer cells and biopsies from patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE), a condition where cells in the esophagus have been altered by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux. Acid reflux is believed to [...]

8/23/2006 Switzerland staff Cancer Weekly August 15, 2006 According to a study from Switzerland, "In patients with locally or regionally advanced head and neck carcinomas, postoperative radiotherapy has historically been the adjuvant therapy applied for patients with prognostically worrisome pathologic features. Any improvement in therapeutic index achieved by adding cytotoxic agents to postoperative radiotherapy remained controversial." "However, two recent randomized trials, conducted in parallel in Europe and the United States, produced level I evidence regarding improved efficacy in this setting for the concurrent administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. High-dose cisplatin and irradiation can now be considered the standard therapeutic approach for resected poor-risk disease. The presence of positive margins and/or nodal extracapsular spread in the surgical specimens are the subgroups that appear to benefit in the most significant way from the addition of chemotherapy to radiation," explained J. Bernier and colleagues, Clinic Genolier. The researchers concluded, "Many questions regarding the optimization of adjuvant treatments still remain unanswered, especially with respect to improvement of patient compliance, integration of novel drugs targeting both locoregional and systemic control, and modulation of treatment intensity according to risk levels." Source: Bernier and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Adjuvant therapy in patients with resected poor-risk head and neck cancer. J Clin Oncol, 2006;24(17):2629-2635).

8/23/2006 Chicago, IL John Otrompke www.docguide.com Exposure to second-hand smoke can lead to a 21% increased risk of mortality in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) among former and present smokers, according to a poster presented here at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS). Out of 135 patients who enrolled in the study, 74% of those who completed it had been exposed to second-hand smoke, said study presenter Jason Chau, MD, resident, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A second primary cancer was identified at the age of 59 years in 16% of subjects with no exposure to second-hand smoke, compared with the age of 55 in 25% of subjects with exposure to second-hand smoke. Thirty percent of those with no exposure had a recurrence of their cancer, compared with 40% in the exposed group, and mortality in the non-SHS group was 39% compared with 60% in the exposed group. "Out of the 124 patients who completed the trial, all were smokers when we met them, and 60% continued smoking," Dr. Chau said during his presentation on August 18th}. "Our study didn't look only at the role of second-hand smoking," Dr. Chau said, and noted that while the institution enrolled the patients in smoking cessation groups, "we didn't aggressively involve the families in the study, and it's harder to get the family to be as honest in learning whether the patient is exposed to [second-hand smoke] in the home." Eighty- to [...]

8/23/2006 Las Vegas, NV staff www.klastv.com Most doctors agree that tobacco smoke, either first or second-hand, contributes to heart disease. But chewing tobacco is now considered a risk factor as well. The Eye on Health team spoke with a local cardiologist. It's no secret that smoking is detrimental. A number of serious medical conditions, including lung cancer and emphysema, are a result of smoking. And it's also a risk factor for heart disease. But if you think that your heart is safe from smokeless tobacco, Las Vegas cardiologist Robert Wesley says think again. Dr. Wesley explained, "All forms of nicotine exposure are associated with risk. Whether you're a non-smoker and receiving secondary smoke, or receiving nicotine through chewing tobacco, the risk is still there. And it's substantial." In the case of chewing tobacco, Dr. Wesley says the cardio damage stems from the immediate absorption of nicotine through the tongue or pharynx. "The nicotine goes immediately into circulation and causes constriction of the coronary vessels, causes instability on the walls of the vessels, leading to plaque formation," Dr. Wesley continued. Smoking triples the risk of dying from heart disease among middle-aged men and women. One study says that chewing tobacco increased the risk two-fold. But kicking the habit is difficult. Even with an ever-growing body of knowledge on the detriments of tobacco use. Dr. Wesley said, "You would think that that would be sufficient motivation in and of itself alone. But this is unfortunately a testament to the addictive nature of [...]

8/23/2006 Cambridge, MA press release biz.yahoo.com The OmniGuide fiber, a revolutionary hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber used for minimally invasive CO2 laser surgery and developed by OmniGuide, Inc. (http://www.Omni-Guide.com), was featured in the July 2006 issue of the Laryngoscope, a leading medical journal. The Laryngoscope is the official publication of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society Inc., also known as the Triological Society. The peer-reviewed publication focuses on the use of OmniGuide's FDA cleared fiber technology for the management of head and neck cancer. The paper discusses three cases illustrating various applications of the OmniGuide fiber in CO2 Laser Head and Neck Surgical Oncology. The cases were led by Dr. Chris Holsinger of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and will be presented this Saturday, August 19, in a satellite symposium at the annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (http://www.ahns.info/meetings/index.php), of which OmniGuide is a Platinum Sponsor. The OmniGuide fiber offers, for the very first time, a flexible delivery system for CO2 lasers. Currently, the CO2 laser, enabling high precision cutting of soft tissue with tight control over penetration depth, is delivered via cumbersome articulated arms which greatly restrict their surgical utility. OmniGuide's fibers have been used in over 120 surgeries to date in over 10 leading teaching institutions across the US. The technology offers new surgical capabilities in head and neck surgery, reduces overall surgical time and cost, and enables easier access to the treated site. Dr. Chris Holsinger, Assistant Professor in the Department [...]

8/23/2006 Iowa City, IA staff CancerConsultants.com According to the results of a study conducted in Denmark, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) does not appear to reduce the risk of developing oral cancer. These results were published in the British Journal of Cancer. Oral cancer refers to cancer that involves the mouth, lips, or tongue. A majority of cases of oral cancer are linked with tobacco use. High alcohol intake also increases the risk of oral cancer. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are used to reduce inflammation and pain. NSAIDS include drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Studies have suggested that NSAIDS may reduce the colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and esophageal cancer, but results for oral cancer have been mixed. To assess whether NSAID use reduces the risk of oral cancer, researchers conducted a study among residents of North Jutland County, Denmark. The study involved more than 400,000 individuals. Information about NSAID use was collected from pharmacy records. Roughly 170,000 of the study participants had filled at least two prescriptions for NSAIDS during the study period. -Between 1991 and 2002, 185 cases of oral cancer were diagnosed among study participants. -Among NSAID users, oral cancer developed in six out of 100,000 people each year. Among non-NSAID users, oral cancer developed in five out of 100,000 people each year. These rates were not significantly different. -Among those with the greatest amount of NSAID use (10 or more prescriptions), there was still no evidence of protection against oral cancer. Because smoking information was [...]

8/23/2006 Gliwice , Poland Jarosław Juszkiewicz Polskie Radio (www.plskieradio.pl) The first tongue reconstruction surgery has been performed by the Silesian surgeons. The patient is a 23 year old cancer patient. Although this kind of tumor is not very frequent it can completely destroy patient’s life. Usually oncologists have to excise the whole tongue, a part of oral cavity and lymphatic nodes. After such massive surgery patients are usually not able to function independently. Talking and normal eating are not possible. But not this time. The patient who was transported to the Oncology Institute in Gliwice a few weeks ago was suffering. The removal of the tongue seemed unavoidable, but the doctors decided to perform the reconstruction. During the surgery they’ve taken a piece of skin with muscles, blood vessels and nerves from the upper part of his leg. After a modeling process they’ve formed a substitute for the tongue. Prof. Ron Yo from the United States participated in the surgery. He is one of the best reconstruction surgeons in the world. “The tongue reconstruction is one of the most difficult medical operations.” – He says – “especially when we compare it to the reconstruction of the breast. After the operation 50 percent of patients are able to swallow and talk clearly enough to be understood not only by family members but also by people the meet on the street.” – says prof. Yo. This was not the first pioneering surgery performed by specialists from Gliwice. Last month they reconstructed a [...]

8/23/2006 Chicago, IL John Otrompke www.docguide.com Presurgical radiochemotherapy may offer promising results to patients with advanced head and neck cancer, according to a poster presented here at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS). "Carboplatin and cisplatin are the most often used drugs for this disease, and paclitaxel has been used for 8 to 10 years for head and neck cancer, and because of the new drugs belonging to the taxane group, we're seeing more and more studies in this area," said Andre Eckardt, MD, PhD, head and neck surgeon, University Hospital, Hanover, Germany, who presented the poster on August 19th. In the study, 51 previously untreated patients were given paclitaxel and carboplatin in addition to radiation, followed by tumor resection. Forty-five patients were male, 41 had cancer of the oral cavity, and the median age upon presentation was 54 years. One-year survival was 83% and 6-year survival was 67%. After 6 years, 67.3% of the patient population was still alive with no disease, while 18 patients were dead, according to the poster. However, in 9% of the patients, second primary tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract were diagnosed. "We need a randomized phase 3 trial to compare these results to the old regimen -- carboplatin and cisplatin," said Eckardt, noting that quality of life and organ function would also probably be part of the next trial. Although patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck present with locally-advance disease in 40% to [...]