2013 – Page 14 – Oral Cancer News

Researchers Design Drug to Restore Cell Suicide in HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer

Source: sciencedaily.comDate: April 8, 2013 Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer, and they have designed a drug to block that mechanism. Though further research is needed, the new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy. HPV-positive head and neck cancer has become three times more common since the 1970s, and it could reach epidemic levels in the future, say researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center -- Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC -- James) who led the study. "We believe these findings will help meet the real need for more effective and safer therapy for a growing number of HPV-positive head and neck cancer patients," says principal investigator Dr. Quintin Pan, associate professor of otolaryngology at the OSUCCC -- James. The study was published in the journal Oncogene. The research, which mainly used head and neck cancer cells, shows that a protein produced by the virus blocks a protein made by the host cell. The cell protein, called p300, regulates a gene called p53. This gene both controls cell division and protects the body against cancer by causing cells to die before they become malignant. By blocking the cell protein, HPV forces the host cell to live instead of die and to proliferate and form tumors. The prospective new drug, called CH1iB, prevents the viral protein from binding [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-04-09T15:09:21-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Dental groups dispute Consumer Reports cancer screening story

Source: http://www.drbicuspid.comBy: Donna Domino, Features EditorDate: April 5, 2013 The dental community is up in arms over a recent Consumer Reports article that claims oral cancer screening is one of several medical tests that are overrecommended and unnecessary for all but high-risk patients. The article, which appears in the March 2013 issue, concluded that "most people shouldn't waste their time" on most diagnostic tests, including chairside visual screenings for oral cancer. "Most people don't need the test unless they are at high risk, because the cancer is relatively uncommon," Consumer Reports wrote. But the ADA and the Oral Cancer Foundation vehemently disagree with the magazine's conclusions, asserting that visual screening can result in earlier diagnosis of oral cancer and other oral diseases. The Consumer Reports article recommends only three cancer tests -- cervical, colon, and breast -- as worthwhile, and includes oral cancer screening among "eight to avoid" tests: ovarian, pancreatic, testicular, prostate, bladder, lung, oral cavity, and skin cancer. The magazine said its ratings were based mainly on reviews from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Early diagnosis critical According to Consumer Reports, the medical community has "systematically exaggerated" the benefits of screening while downplaying the harms, such as unnecessary radiation and biopsies. The ADA quickly registered its disappointment with the recommendations and sent a letter -- co-signed by the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology -- to the editors of Consumer Reports, noting that noninvasive visual and tactile oral cancer screenings are typically included in oral exams [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-04-23T15:24:32-07:00April, 2013|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Cancer clinics are turning away thousands of Medicare patients. Blame the sequester.

Posted by Sarah Kliff on April 3, 2013 at 5:46 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com Ralph V. Boccia of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders runs a cancer clinic that is in danger of losing funding due to the sequester cuts. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post) Cancer clinics across the country have begun turning away thousands of Medicare patients, blaming the sequester budget cuts. Oncologists say the reduced funding, which took effect for Medicare on April 1, makes it impossible to administer expensive chemotherapy drugs while staying afloat financially. Patients at these clinics would need to seek treatment elsewhere, such as at hospitals that might not have the capacity to accommodate them. “If we treated the patients receiving the most expensive drugs, we’d be out of business in six months to a year,” said Jeff Vacirca, chief executive of North Shore Hematology Oncology Associates in New York. “The drugs we’re going to lose money on we’re not going to administer right now.” After an emergency meeting Tuesday, Vacirca’s clinics decided that they would no longer see one-third of their 16,000 Medicare patients. “A lot of us are in disbelief that this is happening,” he said. “It’s a choice between seeing these patients and staying in business.” Some who have been pushing the federal government to spend less on health care say this is not the right approach. “I don’t think there was an intention to disrupt care or move it into a more expensive setting,” said Cathy Schoen, senior vice president of the [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-04-05T13:41:32-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Roger Ebert Announces Return Of Cancer, Says He’s Taking ‘Leave Of Presence’

By: Tom Kludt Date: 9:46 AM EDT, Wednesday April 3, 2013Source: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert announced Tuesday evening in a post on his Chicago Sun-Times blog that he has suffered a return of cancer. As a result, Ebert — who has written prolifically in recent years on a host of topics other than just cinema — said he will be taking a "leave of presence." "What in the world is a leave of presence? It means I am not going away," Ebert wrote. "My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review." In 2012, Ebert said he penned 306 movie reviews, one or two blog posts per week and "assorted other articles" — a higher output than any other point in his career. The blog post commemorated the 46th anniversary of Ebert joining the Sun-Times as a film critic. Ebert suffered a hip fracture in December, which led to the latest diagnosis of cancer. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2002, and in 2006 he lost his ability to speak after his carotid artery burst during a surgery to remove cancer located in his jaw. The latest health episode, Ebert wrote, will likely color his writing going forward. "At this point in my life, in addition to [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-04-03T10:54:36-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Emergence of HPV 16 and sexually transmiitted oral cancer

Source: communities.washingtontimes.com Author: Dr. Ali by Ali Forghani The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the second leading cause of oral cancer. HPV is certainly not a newcomer to the disease world. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease on the planet. As of this writing, over 120 variations of the virus have been discovered, with different strands of HPV affecting different areas of the body. Many people contract HPV daily without realizing they have a virus, as it is very possible to carry a strand while displaying no noticeable symptoms. HPV 16 Virus HPV is a virus that is mainly focused on the outer surface of the body, the skin, as well as the mucus secreting areas. The most noticeable effect from certain strands of the virus is the appearance of warts on the skin, mainly concentrated on the arms, legs and hands. Condylomata acuminatum, also called genital warts, are the strands of this virus found most commonly on individuals and are generally believed to be caused by the HPV strands 6 and 11. These particular strands of HPV are very common and easily treatable. One of the prime reasons HPV is found so commonly in the world is the ease of transmission of the virus. HPV can be spread simply by contact of the skin, with certain strands branching out to be sexually transmitted. These particular strands are the strands that should be of the most concern today due to the discoveries being made [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-04-01T08:46:21-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

HPV-positive African-Americans with throat cancer have better outcomes

Source: www.drbicuspid.com Author: DrBicuspid Staff African-Americans with throat cancer who are positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) have better outcomes than African-Americans without HPV, according to a new study in Clinical Cancer Research (March 26, 2013). African-Americans who are HPV-negative also fared worse than Caucasians both with and without HPV present in oropharyngeal cancer, concluded lead author Maria Worsham, PhD, from Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, and colleagues. "This study adds to the mounting evidence of HPV as a racially-linked sexual behavior lifestyle risk factor impacting survival outcomes for both African-American and Caucasian patients with oropharyngeal cancer," Worsham said in a statement about the study. To compare survival outcomes in HPV-positive and HPV-negative African-Americans with oropharyngeal cancer, the researchers retrospectively evaluated 118 patients. Among the study group, 67 were HPV-negative and 51 were HPV-positive, and 42% of the patients were African-American. The study results indicate the following, according to the researchers: African-Americans are less likely to be HPV-positive. Those older than 50 are less likely to be HPV-positive. Those with late-stage oropharyngeal cancer are more likely to be unmarried and more likely to be HPV-positive. HPV-negative patients had 2.7 times the risk of death compared to HPV-positive patients. The HPV race groups differed, with significantly poorer survival for HPV-negative African-Americans versus HPV-positive African-Americans, HPV-positive Caucasians, and HPV-negative Caucasians. Overall, the study showed that HPV has a substantial affect on overall survival in African-Americans with oropharyngeal cancer, Worsham and colleagues concluded.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-04-01T08:35:41-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Understanding the connection between “dry mouth” and cavities

Source: www.hivehealthmedia.com Author: Rob Gazzola Do you have an unusually dry mouth? Do you suffer from bad breath, cracked lips, split skin at your mouth’s corners or a frequent sore throat? If your answer is “yes,” your symptoms may be caused by xerostomia, a condition caused by a lack of saliva. More commonly known simply as “dry mouth,” xerostomia can also cause difficulties swallowing and speaking and an altered sense of taste. Even worse, the condition can lead to an increase of tooth decay and plaque. Saliva plays an important role in maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. It protects your teeth’s enamel by neutralizing potentially harmful acids, and it rinses food debris away from both the teeth and the gums. Without it, food particles, plaque and acid build up in your mouth, leading to tooth decay. Luckily, there are many ways to improve dry mouth symptoms: To stimulate the production of saliva, suck on hard candies or chew gum. Just make sure the varieties you choose are sugar-free. Caffeine can dry out your mouth even more, so limit your intake of tea, coffee, soda and other caffeinated products. Avoid foods and candies with high levels of acid or sugar. These foods can raise your risk of developing tooth decay. When eating fruit, try to avoid dried fruit as generally they are high in sugar and often leave particles that cling to your teeth, while fresh fruit, though also having sugar content, is less likely to cause issues [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-04-01T08:31:44-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Taking aspirin once a month reduces cancer risk

Source: www.ghanaweb.com Author: staff Popping an aspirin just once a month could cut people's chances of developing cancer by almost a quarter, new research suggests. According to scientists at Queen's University in Belfast, a weekly or even monthly dose of the over-the-counter painkiller could help people avoid developing tumours. Their investigation indicated that a regular dose of aspirin could reduce people's risk of getting head and neck cancer by 22 per cent. A regular dose of aspirin in middle age is already recognised as helping to reduce people's risk of heart attacks and strokes. Academics at the Belfast university carried out an investigation into the impact of aspirin and ibuprofen on head and neck cancer risk, a report in the Daily Express said. It was most effective in throat cancer prevention, their study showed. The results of their research were published in the British Journal of Cancer. They concluded that aspirin 'may have potential as a chemopreventive agent', noting that 'further investigation is warranted'. Head and neck cancers affect more than 16,000 people in the UK annually. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said the research was 'encouraging' 'Regular aspirin use has been linked to preventing a number of cancers, and if it is a particularly successful practice for warding off mouth cancer, it should act as a springboard for more research,' he said.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-04-01T08:25:49-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Smoking on waking increase cancer risk

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com Author: Malathy Iyer It is well known that smoking is injurious to health, but what is now emerging is that smokers who light up first thing in the morning are more likely than other smokers to suffer from lung or oral cancer. The research could serve as an eye-opener for India, where tobacco-related cancers claim over 1 million lives every year. The correlation between the time of the first smoke and cancer comes from a carcinogen found in cigarettes. A new study from Penn University in the US has shown that smokers who consume cigarettes immediately after waking up have higher levels of a carcinogen called NNAL (a derivative of NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-[3-pyridyl]-1-butanone) throughout the day in comparison to others. Steven Branstetter, assistant professor at Penn University, said that other researches had shown that NNK induces lung tumors in several rodent species. His team hence believes that levels of NNAL in the blood can predict lung cancer risk in rodents as well as in humans. The team examined data on 1,945 smoking adults and found that around 32 % smoked their first cigarette of the day within 5 minutes of waking; 31 % smoked within 6 to 30 minutes of waking; 18 % smoked within 31 to 60 minutes of waking; and 19 percent smoked more than one hour after waking. "Most importantly, we found that NNAL level was highest among people who smoked the soonest upon waking, regardless of the frequency of smoking and other factors that predict [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-04-01T08:22:35-07:00April, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Major study finds no link between vaccines and autism

Source: therawstory.comBy: Agence France-Presse Date: Friday, March 29, 2013 A US study out Friday sought to dispel the fears of about one third of American parents that giving a series of vaccines to children may be linked to autism. Even though children are receiving more vaccines today than they did in the 1990s, there is no link between “too many vaccines too soon” and autism, said the study in the Journal of Pediatrics. About one in 10 US parents refuse or delay vaccinations for their children because they believe it is safer than following the schedule put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to previous research. Prior studies have already shown there is no link between vaccines and autism, including a 2004 comprehensive review by the Institute of Medicine. This time, researchers at the CDC decided to look children’s exposure to antigens, the substances in vaccines that cause the body to produce antibodies to fight infection and disease. Researchers looked at data from 256 children with autism spectrum disorder across three separate managed care organizations in the United States. They compared the cumulative exposure to antigens in those children to 752 children without autism. “We found no evidence indicating an association between exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides contained in vaccines during the first two years of life and the risk of acquiring autism spectrum disorder, autism disorder or autism spectrum disorder with regression,” said the study. Nor were there any links between autism and cumulative [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-03-29T13:14:29-07:00March, 2013|Oral Cancer News|