May 2009 – Page 3 – Oral Cancer News

Personalised cancer diagnosis

Source: www.economist.com Author: staff If researchers could identify what it is that makes a tissue tumorous, they might be able to develop drugs aimed precisely at the cause of the cancer. At present, they know that certain molecules become active in tumours found in certain parts of the body. Both head-and-neck cancers and breast cancers, for example, have an abundance of molecules called epidermal growth-factor receptors (EGFRs). Now one group of researchers has developed a technique that could, in the long term, diagnose almost all cancers according to their molecular origin rather than what part of the body they had cropped up in. That might eventually allow doctors to apply more relevant treatment. Moreover, in the short term, the new technique can already reveal how advanced a person’s cancer is, and thus how likely it is to return after treatment. At present, pathologists assess how advanced a cancer is by taking a sample, known as a biopsy, and examining the concentration within it of specific receptors, such as EGFRs, that are known to help cancers spread. Peter Parker of Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute had the idea of employing a technique called fluorescence resonance-energy transfer (FRET), which is used to study interactions between individual protein molecules, to see if he could find out not only how many receptors there are in a biopsy but also how active they are. The technique uses two types of antibody, each attached to a fluorescent dye molecule. Each of the two types is [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-13T12:57:59-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Oral Sexual Behaviors and the Prevalence of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Author: Aimée R. Kreimer EDITORIAL COMMENTARY National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland In this issue of the Journal, D’Souza et al. [1] demonstrate that oral sexual behaviors are associated with the detection of prevalent oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. With their study, D'Souza and colleagues have taken an additional step toward improving our understanding of the epidemiologic profile of oral HPV transmission. HPV is an important human carcinogen that is increasingly implicated in human cancers occurring at multiple anatomical sites [2]. Over the past decade, there has been accumulating molecular and epidemiologic evidence demonstrating that HPV causes a subset of head and neck cancers, specifically in the oropharynx [3, 4]. This evidence mandates the need for additional novel research along multiple areas of the disease continuum. Important research topics include (1) elucidating the natural history and epidemiologic profile of oral HPV infection in healthy individuals, (2) determining whether the HPV vaccine is efficacious in preventing oral HPV infections and related diseases, and (3) determining whether the HPV status of the tumor should be used in clinical decision‐making pertaining to treatment. D’Souza et al. [1] used 2 distinct populations and differing study methods to evaluate associations between self‐reported sexual behaviors and detection of prevalent oral HPV infection. The oral HPV point prevalence was 2.9% among 210 college‐aged men and 4.8% among 332 controls in a hospital‐based case‐control study. Although these percentages are not statistically different, it is noteworthy that the point prevalence among college‐aged men (median age, 19 [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-05-12T16:03:58-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

A case-control study on the combined effects of p53 and p73 polymorphisms on head and neck cancer risk in an Italian population

Source: 7thspace.com Author: Paola Galli et al. The purpose of this study is to analyze the combined effects of selected p53 and p73 polymorphisms and their interaction with lifestyle habits on squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) risk and progression in an Italian population. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-three cases and 295 hospital controls were genotyped for p53 polymorphisms on exon 4 (Arg72Pro), intron 3 and 6, and p73 G4C14-to-A4T14. Their association with SCCHN was estimated using a logistic regression analysis, while a multinomial logistic regression approach was applied to calculate the effect of the selected polymorphisms on SCCHN different sites (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx). We performed an haplotype analysis of the p53 polymorphisms, and a gene-gene interaction analysis for the combined effects of p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 and p53 polymorphisms. Results: We found a significant increased risk of SCCHN among individuals with combined p73 exon 2 G4A and p53 intron 3 variant alleles (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.08-4.56), and a protective effect for those carrying the p53 exon 4- p53 intron 6 diplotype combination (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47-0.92). From the gene-environment interaction analysis we found that individuals aged <45 years carrying p73 exon 2 G4A variant allele have a 12.85-increased risk of SCCHN (95% CI: 2.10-78.74) compared with persons of the same age with the homozygous wild type genotype. Improved survival rate was observed among p53 intron 6 variant allele carriers (Hazard Ratio = 0.51 (95% CI: 0.23-1.16). Conclusion: Our study provides for [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-09T09:35:04-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Early oral cancer detection: Why you? Why now?

Source: www.rdhmag.com Author: Jonathan A. Bregman, DDS, FAGD What motivates any of us as dental health-care providers? Specifically, what motivates us to do a complete early oral cancer screening? As I travel around the country discussing the topic of early oral cancer detection, four key motivators stand out. 1. Malpractice risk Are you familiar with these malpractice facts? - Lack of diagnosis or delayed diagnosis of oral cancer is the No. 2 reason for malpractice claims in the U.S. -The average claim is settled for approximately 1 million ? yes 1 million ? dollars - The average age of claimants is early 40s - It is the hardest suit to defend Did that get your attention? I hope so! Why do so many dentists lose these lawsuits, with some dentists literally now unable to purchase malpractice insurance at all? The answer is simple: The lack of a complete and properly recorded early oral cancer screening examination. Maybe this could be your motivator to incorporate an early oral cancer screening system into your office. 2. The right way to practice dentistry In dentistry, as with all professions, the terms "best practice" or "excellence in service/care" are very broad. How dentistry is performed on a daily basis is up to the individual practitioner and his/her dental team. Also, included in the mix is the number of "unique" or "different" procedures performed in the office. Thus, defining excellent care or "the right way to practice dentistry" varies. A complete early oral cancer screening may [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-09T09:25:08-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

This Mr. America still pumps iron and turns heads at age 75

Source: OC Register Author: Staff Bill Howard, a former Mr. America, wears a silver hair piece styled in a pony tail. He doesn't spend his days lifting at Muscle Beach anymore, so he buys his sun-kissed look at a tanning bed near his apartment in Costa Mesa. Howard turns 75 next week and he's still turning heads with his rippling biceps and bulging chest. In fitness and life, Howard has built himself up from nothing over and over again. But before he tells his story, he's got to work his arms. ••• Howard arrives at Fitness Authority driving a red Chrysler with a vanity plate that reads "MUSCLEB." He's wearing what he calls his "show off" short denim shorts, and a black racer-back tank top. He keeps the same 8 a.m. lifting routine five mornings a week, isolating a different muscle group for an hour. As he does 12-rep sets of 100-pound bicep curls, he closes his eyes and grimaces and growls. His wrinkled face looks much older than his taut body. "I'm trying to make a statement," he says in his deep, booming voice. "We don't have to get old and decrepit." His friends revere him as a bodybuilding icon. "You look at the guy, you just go Holy Smokes," says Bernie Rubio, owner of Fitness Authority gym in Costa Mesa. "He was asked by Arnold to be in "Pumping Iron," but he went on his honeymoon instead. This guy was there. He was part of it." When asked [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-08T19:05:46-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Nutrition and cancer

Source: insciences.org Author: Relatively recently, researchers have become keenly interested in exploring which food compounds are beneficial in treating and preventing serious diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis. Omer Kucuk, MD, is one of those researchers. Kucuk, a professor of hematology and medical oncology at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, studies specific food compounds and their effect on cancer prevention and treatment. Evidence indicates that some food compounds, such as soy isoflavones and curcumin, can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. To listen to Kucuk's own words about which food compounds affect cancer prevention and treatment, access Emory's new Sound Science podcast at http://whsc.emory.edu/soundscience/. Kucuk conducted the first clinical trials to show the benefits of soy and lycopene supplements in prostate cancer treatment. "In our preclinical studies we have observed that taking soy isoflavones during chemotherapy and radiation for advanced prostate cancer can improve the efficacy of the treatments," says Kucuk. "The compounds sensitize the cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation while at the same time they protect the normal tissues from side effects." Most nutritional compounds used for therapy or disease prevention can be taken as part of a routine diet and have little if any side effects, Kucuk says. "People can get enough lycopene by eating tomato paste and tomato sauce, which is very rich in lycopene. So, if people ate a couple of ounces of tomato paste a day as part of a regular diet, they would eat enough to get all the benefits," he says. [...]

Webmaster2009-05-08T19:01:05-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Perceptronix Reports Clinical Study Underway to Evaluate OralAdvance(TM) for Early Detection of Oral Cancer

Source: www.earthtimes.org Author: press release Perceptronix Medical Inc. announces that a clinical study of OralAdvance(TM), a test for the early detection of oral cancer, is now underway. The clinical study will assess the performance of OralAdvance(TM) compared to the gold standard biopsy and histology for its ability to differentiate between visually suspicious oral lesions with cancer or pre-cancer and visually suspicious benign oral lesions. "Unlike many other types of cancer, the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer have not shown significant improvement over the past 30 years. By the time most oral cancers are diagnosed, they are already symptomatic late-stage disease. At Perceptronix we are dedicated to changing this paradigm towards early detection for better patient outcomes," says Dr. Bojana Turic, President and CEO of Perceptronix. Patients for the blinded study will be recruited from the BC Cancer Agency's Vancouver and Fraser Valley Centres. "We are pleased to be able to participate in the evaluation of the test in a clinical setting with technology that was developed in partnership with scientists at the BC Cancer Agency's Research Centre, and we are hopeful that the test will have a positive impact on the early detection of oral cancer," says Dr. Allan Hovan (Provincial Professional Practice Leader, Program in Oral Oncology/Dentistry, BC Cancer Agency). Currently, the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or malignant melanoma. High death rate associated with oral cancer could be reduced significantly [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-08T18:56:15-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Cancer ‘sniffing nose’ developed by an Israeli researcher

Source: www.deccanherald.com Author: staff A nose, that can sniff cancer at an early stage, thus, leading to wide variety of treatments enhancing a patients chances of recovery has been developed by the scientist at Israel Institute of Technology. The "sniffing nose" is very close to a dog's olfactory system, a media report here said. The artificial nose is developed on the grounds that dogs are capable of detecting cancer in earlier stages by sniffing the patient's breath and could also identify molecules created by a tumor that circulate through their blood to the lungs, and leave the body when they exhale. Results of clinical trials of the 'artificial nose ' done on some 100 persons -- 62 cancer patients -- reveals that it is capable of efficiently and accurately distinguishing between cancer patients and healthy people and could even detect the location and nature of the tumor. "These findings are impressive, but initial, and must be verified in research on a larger number of patients", Professor Abraham Kuten, Co-researcher and Director of the Rambam Medical Center Oncology Institute, told the news portal. The clinical trials were conducted at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa by a team led by Dr Hossam Haick of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute The patients taking part in the experiment suffered from lung, breast, colon, prostate, head and neck cancer. The participants breathed into bags which were transferred to the Technion for testing and the results were compared to details of the patients' diseases according [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-08T18:55:39-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Pharmaceuticals, patents, publicity…and philanthropy?

Source: The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9665, Page 693, 28 February 2009 Author: staff Tensions between provision of and payment for health care are familiar. Though doctors assume principal responsibility for patients' health, those who work for pharmaceutical companies view the patented medicines they design as key components of health care. Creative ways are continually found to make such drugs available to as many patients in high-income countries as possible, the profits contributing to future investment in development and leaving national drug budgets affordable, just. Yet, a few hours' flying away, patients in developing countries usually have no access to these very same patented drugs. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has grown in size and influence by successful drug development, timely takeovers, and shrewd management. Andrew Witty, who ascended to the vertiginous position of chief executive at GSK in the past year, has attracted attention by a surprising presentation at Harvard Medical School on Feb 13. He promises that GSK will now not only make its medicines available much more cheaply to patients in low-income countries, but also make a bolder commitment to research into neglected diseases. As one blogger puts it, “arise Sir Andrew Witty (or is it Saint Andrew?)”. Does this announcement mark a sea change in pharma's attitude to the provision of drugs in poor countries, or could it be more reminiscent of the zany hybrid vehicles that distract attention from car manufacturers' shamelessly polluting stock in trade? Witty's words were carefully weighed to cast a rosy glow around GSK's [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-08T18:54:41-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Snus news & other tobacco products

Source: snus-news.blogspot.com Author: blog post Twenty-six of the United States' leading tobacco control researchers and policy experts have called for regulatory control of all tobacco products. They also called for policies that encourage current tobacco users to reduce their health risks by switching from the most to the least harmful nicotine-containing products. This group met in a two-year process they called The Strategic Dialogue on Tobacco Harm Reduction - members met four times between December 2005 and August 2007. Their vision: a world in which virtually no one uses cigarettes. But the group acknowledged that smokeless-tobacco products are an option for reducing health risks for tobacco users. They also called for policies that encourage current tobacco users to reduce their health risks by switching from the most to the least harmful nicotine-containing products. Paper: Mitch Zeller et al., The strategic dialogue on tobacco harm reduction: A vision and blueprint for action in the United States, Tob Control 2009 0: 200802731, ABSTRACT... Murray Kessler, former Chief Executive Officer of UST, Inc - the world's leading producer of moist smokeless tobacco products - tells us that 9 out of 10 smokers that try smokeless reject the product. Smokers faced with the increased in the federal tax on cigarettes (effective April 1, 2009) have been telling clerks at c-stores they're thinking of quitting but hardly anyone has indicated they are thinking of switching to smokeless tobacco. We’re all for this safer alternative if distribution could be limited to inveterate tobacco smokers (smokers who [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-05-08T18:49:23-07:00May, 2009|Oral Cancer News|