Cytogen Unveils New Oral Mucositis Education and Support Program Together with the Kickoff of Its Commercialization of CAPHOSOL

3/6/2007 New Rochelle, NY press release Genetic Engineering News (www.genengnews.com) Cytogen Corporation today announced the launch of Caphosol Relieves Oral Mucositis, an educational support program for patients and caregivers. The announcement comes as Cytogen establishes an expanded market presence for Caphosol, an advanced electrolyte solution indicated in the U.S. as an adjunct to standard oral care in treating oral mucositis (OM) caused by radiation or high dose chemotherapy. Caphosol, a prescription medical device, is also indicated for dryness of the mouth or throat (hyposalivation, xerostomia), regardless of the cause or whether the conditions are temporary or permanent.(1) Caphosol is available through U.S. wholesalers nationwide. CARE OM As part of its commitment to advancing the treatment and care of cancer patients, Cytogen is proud to announce the launch of CARE OM - a web-based education and support center for patients and caregivers seeking to learn more about OM and Caphosol . In addition to oral mucositis educational material and support information, visitors to CARE OM, located at http://www.caphosol.com/careom, can also download an OM brochure or request a free brochure about OM by mail. "The CARE OM program is designed to help raise awareness of oral mucositis --one of the most common and debilitating complications of cancer treatment," said Michael D. Becker, president and chief executive officer of Cytogen Corporation. "As we make Caphosol more widely available in the U.S., our goal is to improve the quality of cancer patients' lives through the effective management of oral mucositis." Oral complications including mucositis [...]

2009-04-15T11:02:20-07:00March, 2007|Archive|

Spitting image of dental health

3/6/2007 Pittsburgh, PA Allison M. Heinrichs Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (www.pittsburghlive.com) Lugging a suitcase filled with 600 DNA samples from people with oral deformities sparked an idea for Dr. Alexandre Vieira that simmered for seven years. That idea has since grown into the world's first dental DNA registry -- and all people have to do to help is spit into a cup. "Anything that you can imagine related to dentistry can be examined in this way," said Vieira, a dentist and assistant professor in Pitt's Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics. The registry allows qualified researchers access to a person's dental records -- anonymously -- along with a sample of that person's DNA, collected from saliva. Potential research projects include everything from determining whether cavities have a genetic link, to testing whether a particular couple is prone to having a baby with an oral defect, such as a cleft palate. By having a pre-existing DNA registry, Vieira expects to save Pitt and other dental research centers almost $125,000 per genetics study because researchers won't have to collect new samples. The project began in September in one of the dental school's 20-chair Oakland clinics. Patients who indicate they are willing to participate in the study sign a waiver and spit into a special cup. When Vieira started the study, he expected about 30 percent of the patients to agree. So far, 85 percent of patients have done so, and Vieira has collected almost 250 samples. He's hoping to collect 1,000 each year, with [...]

2009-04-15T11:01:51-07:00March, 2007|Archive|

FDG-PET-CT Scanning Improves Treatment Planning for Head and Neck Cancer Compared With CT Alone

3/5/2007 Barcelona, Spain Bruce Sylvester Doctor's Guide (www.docguide.com) Addition of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) to computed tomography (CT) alters gross tumour volume readings for a significant number of patients with head and neck cancer, which can affect treatment decisions. The findings were presented in an oral session here on February 23rd at the International Meeting on Innovative Approaches in Head and Neck Oncology, sponsored by the European Head and Neck Society and the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (EHNS-ESTRO). "Our findings suggest that, for tumours of the head and neck which are to be treated with primary chemoradiography, combined FDG-PET-CT will provide optimal treatment guidance compared to CT alone," said presenter and lead investigator Christian Terhaard, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiology, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The investigators compared the CT and FDG-PET-CT images of 109 patients treated at the University Medical Centre in Utrecht between 2003 and 2006 for primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (95%) or for recurrent disease (5%). The scans were taken using the same mould for each patient. A radiation oncologist and a nuclear medicine physician matched and analysed the images and evaluated them for differences in the gross tumour volume and change of treatment preference. Tumours were located in the pharynx (76%), larynx (11%) and oral cavity (13%). Advanced T-stage (tumour size and extent of primary tumour) of T3-4 appeared in 46% of the subjects; neck nodes were positive in 61%. The researchers reported that the [...]

2009-04-15T11:00:08-07:00March, 2007|Archive|

Quality-of-Life Results for Free-Flap Reconstruction After Head and Neck Cancer Surgery “Acceptable,” But New Procedures Needed

3/4/2007 Barcelona, Spain Bruce Sylvester Doctor's Guide (www.docguide.com) Free-flap reconstruction following head and neck cancer surgery produces acceptable quality-of-life outcomes, researchers reported here at the International Meeting on Innovative Approaches in Head and Neck Oncology, sponsored by the European Head and Neck Society and the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (EHNS-ESTRO). "While the outcomes were acceptable, clearly new reconstructive procedures are also needed," said lead investigator and presenter Gilles Poissonnet, MD, surgeon, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France, in an oral session here on February 24th. Dr. Poissonnet and colleagues enrolled 65 consecutive patients who underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery with free flaps between 2004 and 2005. Before surgery and both 6 months and 12 months after surgery, subjects completed 2 questionnaires -- the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35). The investigators looked at predictive factors of poor quality of life including age, comorbidities, preoperative radiotherapy, tumour stage, type of surgery, and type of defect repaired. Results showed that global quality of life decreased slightly at 6 months after surgery and remained fairly constant at 6 and 12 months. Physical functioning, role functioning and social functioning declined significantly at the 1-year evaluation (P < .05), and emotional and cognitive functioning remained stable. Pain decreased significantly after treatment (P < .05). Eating, speaking, and sensorial problems increased significantly, with a slight deterioration between 6 and 12 months. The authors concluded, "Free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects allows good functional results [...]

2009-04-15T10:59:32-07:00March, 2007|Archive|

Evaluation and Localization of Lymphatic Drainage and Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Patients with Head and Neck Melanomas by Hybrid SPECT/CT Lymphoscintigraphic Imaging

3/4/2007 Houston, TX Martha V. Mar et al. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology Volume 35, Number 1, 2007 10-16 In patients with head and neck tumors, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy can be used to map lymphatic drainage patterns and identify sentinel lymph nodes. However, it is very difficult to determine the exact locations of head and neck sentinel nodes on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy without the use of anatomic landmarks. Lymph nodes in the head and neck are grouped into 7 regions, or levels, on the basis of anatomic landmarks. In patients undergoing standard lymphoscintigraphy, obtaining lateral marker images that show important anatomic landmarks can help with the localization of sentinel nodes. However, technical problems often render marker images of little or no use. Hybrid SPECT/CT (single photon emission controlled tomography) lymphoscintigraphic imaging facilitates the localization of sentinel nodes by reliably showing the relationships between sentinel nodes and important anatomic structures. After reading this article, the reader should understand the lymph node level classification system for head and neck melanomas, be able to describe the technique used for the imaging of sentinel nodes in the head and neck region, and be able to demonstrate how SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphic imaging can enable precise sentinel node localization and thus help to ensure minimal dissection. Authors: Martha V. Mar1, Scott A. Miller2, E. Edmund Kim1 and Homer A. Macapinlac1 Authors' affiliations: 1 Department of Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; and 2 Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson [...]

2009-04-15T10:58:28-07:00March, 2007|Archive|

Advances in the Medical Management of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

3/2/2007 Rancho Mirage, CA Jennifer R. Grandis, MD Medscape Today (www.medscape.com) Introduction: The Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, cosponsored by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, was held in Rancho Mirage, California, from January 18-20, 2007. Several presentations focused on advances in the medical management of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Despite increasing awareness of the cancer-inducing effects of tobacco, the incidence of HNC has not decreased worldwide. Efforts to prevent these tumors through pharmacologic intervention have largely failed, and early detection strategies have not been successful. Thus, most patients with HNC present with advanced (stages III and IV) disease. Oral cavity tumors are treated primarily with surgical resection due to the toxicity of radiation in this region (eg, osteoradionecrosis). Advanced tumors of the pharynx and larynx are generally treated with combined modality therapy (chemoradiation [CRT]), with surgery reserved for neck dissection when the patient presents with advanced neck disease (N2 or N3) and/or has an incomplete response in the neck to CRT. The major advance in the management of HNC continues to be the integration of targeted therapeutics into treatment regimens. Inhibiting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor: The landmark Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial[1] comparing the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab plus radiation vs radiation alone led to approval of this agent by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 for the treatment of HNC. Cetuximab was the first drug approved for [...]

2009-04-15T10:57:54-07:00March, 2007|Archive|

HPV Infection Is Common in U.S. Women

3/1/2007 web-based article Miranda Hitti WebMD (www.mebmd.com) Human papillomavirus is common among U.S. women, especially those in their early 20s, says the CDC. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is America's most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV infection typically clears within two years, and most infected people don't realize they have the virus. However, some strains of HPV can cause cervical, anal, and other genital cancers, note the CDC's Eileen Dunne, MD, MPH, and colleagues. Dunne's team calculated the total number of U.S. women aged 14-59 with HPV infection from 2003 to 2004. More than one in four U.S. women in that age range -- nearly 27% -- had HPV infection. That equals nearly 25 million U.S. women, according to the CDC. About 3 million had any of the four HPV strains targeted by Gardasil, a vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts, the CDC estimates. HPV Infection in Young Women HPV infection was most common among women aged 20-24. Nearly half of the women in that age group (49%) had HPV infection. A third of women aged 14-24 had HPV infection. That's nearly 7.5 million -- far more than previous estimates that 4.6 million women in that age range had HPV. Older women were less likely to have HPV infection, the study shows. Data came from 1,921 women who submitted self-collected vaginal swabs for a national health study conducted from 2003 to 2004. The findings appear in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Vaccine's Impact The data was gathered [...]

2009-04-15T10:57:17-07:00March, 2007|Archive|
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