Charlotte Parker, Author at Oral Cancer News

Human papillomavirus-active head and neck cancer and ethnic health disparities

Source: Medical College of Georgia Authors: PM Weinberger, MA Merkley, SS Khichi, JR Lee, A Psyrri, LL Jackson, and WS Dynan OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Mortality for black males with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is twice that of white males or females. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-active HNSCC, defined by the concurrent presence of high-risk type HPV DNA and host cell p16(INK4a) expression, is associated with decreased mortality. We hypothesized that prevalence of this HPV-active disease class would be lower in black HNSCC patients compared to white patients. STUDY DESIGN:: Multi-institutional retrospective cohort analysis. METHODS:: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate for high-risk HPV DNA presence. Immunohistochemistry for p16(INK4a) protein was used as a surrogate marker for HPV oncoprotein activity. Patients were classified as HPV-negative (HPV DNA-negative, p16(INK4a) low), HPV-inactive (HPV DNA-positive, p16(INK4a) low), and HPV-active (HPV DNA-positive, p16(INK4a) high). Overall survival and recurrence rates were compared by Fisher exact test and Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS:: There were 140 patients with HNSCC who met inclusion criteria. Self-reported ethnicity was white (115), black (25), and other (0). Amplifiable DNA was recovered from 102/140 patients. The presence of HPV DNA and the level of p16(INK4a) expression were determined, and the results were used to classify these patients as HPV-negative (44), HPV-inactive (33), and HPV-active (25). Patients with HPV-active HNSCC had improved overall 5-year survival (59.7%) compared to HPV-negative and HPV-inactive patients (16.9%) (P = .003). Black patients were less likely to have HPV-active disease (0%) compared to white patients (21%) (P = .017). [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-23T11:16:51-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Hundreds of Chattanooga residents join together to support oral cancer survivor and raise awareness

Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation Author: Staff Chattanooga Walk Promotes Early Detection of Oral Cancer NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recently, oral cancer survivor Jeanna Richelson, organized the first Chattanooga Oral Cancer Awareness Walk, which raised donations for the Oral Cancer Foundation, and much needed awareness of a disease that too few Americans know about. According to the foundation's executive director Brian Hill, "I don't believe there has ever been an oral cancer walk that was this successful in its first year. This was an absolutely amazing effort by Jeanna and those who helped her make this possible." Unlike other cancers we commonly hear about, oral cancer is a disease the majority of the public has heard little about, even though it has one of the highest death rates. Even with famous people who have passed away from this disease such as, Babe Ruth, Sigmund Freud, and George Harrison, it still receives little attention. While walks have become commonplace in many other diseases, raising awareness is no longer part of their function. By having a walk to raise awareness of oral cancer, it also raises awareness of risk factors that people might avoid, encourages simple inexpensive annual screenings, which will in turn reduce the death rate. Jamie O'Day, the treatment facilities coordinator for OCF commented, "This is a disease that in its early stages of development does not always produce symptoms that people might notice. Because of the insidious nature of oral cancer, annual screenings are essential to finding it as precancerous tissue changes, [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-21T19:24:56-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Combining surgery for removal of tissue and reconstruction

Source: MedicalNewToday Author: Staff Restoring people's health and returning them to their daily lives as soon as possible is the goal following any surgery. When a person's ability to eat and speak is affected, as with cancer in the mouth, surgery is particularly disruptive, creating a greater challenge. A one-step surgery can remove cancerous tissue and reconstruct bone and teeth functionality immediately, positively impacting the patient's quality of life. A case study in the June issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology describes a one-step surgery performed on a 65-year-old woman with squamous cell carcinoma. A two-year follow-up of this patient showed the one-step procedure to be successful. Typically, ablative surgery is first performed to remove cancerous bone and tissue. The surgery is followed by radiotherapy, and often tooth loss. Reconstructing the jaw and placing a dental implant at this point are taxing due to the side effects of radiotherapy and poor patient tolerance. The procedure outlined in this article permitted an impression to be taken immediately after the jaw reconstruction and implant installation during the initial surgery. A rigid prosthesis was fabricated and screw-secured to the implants 48 hours later. Complementary radiotherapy began six weeks following the surgery and implant. The prosthesis was modified as necessary six months after completion of the radiotherapy. The advantages of single surgery include a reduced risk of osteonecrosis-disease in the jawbone-which can occur with postradiation surgery. A single surgery also can decrease the need for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The authors emphasize that this one-step surgery is [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-18T19:07:35-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Sharp rise in HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma — a legacy of the “sexual revolution”?

Source: MedScape Author: Zosia Chustecka March 30, 2010 — The incidence of oropharyngeal carcinoma related to human papillomavirus (HPV) has been increasing in recent years, and there is speculation that this is the result of the "sexual revolution" of the 1960s. This increase in the incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer has important public health implications, British experts warn in an editorial published online March 25 in the British Medical Journal. HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma appears to be a new and distinct disease entity, with better survival than the classic non-HPV-related disease, they point out. "These patients are typically younger and employed, and — because outcomes seem to be more favorable than for patients with non-HPV-related carcinoma — they will live longer with the functional and psychological sequelae of their treatment. Consequently, they need prolonged support from health, social, and other services, and may require help returning to work," write the authors, headed by Hisham Mehanna, BMedSc, MB ChB, FRCS, director of the Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education at University Hospital in Coventry, United Kingdom. However, currently, there is no good evidence to support managing patients with HPV-related head and neck cancer differently from those whose tumors are not HPV-related, the researchers write. Several studies are being planned to evaluate different treatment options, and Dr. Mehanna and colleagues urge clinicians to offer all patients with oropharyngeal cancer the opportunity to enroll in a clinical trial. However, until data from those trials are available, "we suggest that clinicians should not change their current [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-18T08:06:16-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

High-risk HPV in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer, and their children

Source: 7thSpace Author: Rajan SainiTan Association of High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) with oral cancer has been established recently. Detecting these viruses in oral cavity is important to prevent oral lesions related to them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HR-HPV in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer, and their children. A total of 70 women, previously diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 46 children of these women, born by vaginal delivery only, were selected for this study. Buccal swabs were collected from their oral cavity and HPV detection was carried out using Hybrid Capture 2 high-risk HPV (HC2 HR-HPV) detection system. Results: Out of 70 women with cervical cancer, four (5.71%) were found to be positive for HR-HPV in their oral cavity. No association of HR-HPV was found with sociodemographic profile, marital status, reproductive history, tobacco and alcohol usage, contraceptive pills usage, and presence of oral lesions (p>0.05). Among children, HR-HPV in the oral cavity was detected in only 1 of the 46 subjects examined (2.17%). Clinically healthy oral mucosa, without any oral lesions, was observed in all the HR-HPV positive subjects. Conclusion: The result of this study showed that there is low, if any, risk of HR-HPV infection in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer. Further, our study suggests that there is very low risk for children of women with cervical cancer, to acquire and sustain HR-HPV in their oral cavity until childhood or adolescence. Author: Rajan SainiTan KhimSarah RahmanMazian IsmailThean [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-16T11:53:33-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

San Francisco passes cellphone radiation law

Source: USA Today Author: Staff San Francisco, a U.S. trendsetter on many social issues, voted Tuesday to require retailers to post notices on how much radiation is emitted by cellphones they sell. The Board of Supervisors approved the ordiance, believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, despite opposition from the cellphone industry, which argued that it could impede sales and mislead consumers into believing some phones are safer than others. There's no scientific consensus on the dangers of cellphone radiation, but the Federal Communications Commission sets exposure limits. Cellphones can't have a specific absorption rate (SAR) -- the amount of radio waves absorbed by the user's body -- greater than 1.6 watts per kilogram. The Environmental Working Group, a private government watchdog group, says cellphone users can take steps to reduce exposure by, among other things, texting and listening rather than talking and by using a headset or speaker. Mayor Gavin Newsom, an avid iPhone user who is running as the Democratic nominee for California's lieutenant governor, is expected to sign the ordinance into law after a 10-day comment period, reports the Associated Press. "In addition to protecting the consumers' right to know, this legislation will encourage telephone manufacturers to redesign their devices to function at lower radiation levels," Gavin said in January in proposing the legislation. Gavin said more research is needed on cellphone safety but cited recent studies that indicate long-term exposure to cellphone radiation can increase the risks of brain and mouth cancer, among [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-16T11:25:45-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

HPV-positive tumors increase chance of survival

Source: Dotmed Author: Heather Mayer For some time now, experts have suspected a link between the human papillomavirus and oral cancer. DOTmed News reported in April that HPV could be linked to a nearly one-quarter increase in mouth and throat cancers in the United States (see DM 12140). But now it's been shown that not only can HPV cause oral cancer, but it can increase a patient's chance of survival, according to a study from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The report, published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the presence of HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, is the most important predictor of survival for people with oropharyngeal cancer -- cancer of the back of the mouth. Lifetime smoking history and cancer stage follow HPV as survival predictors. "We believe HPV cancers are likely more susceptible to radiation treatment than tobacco tumors," says Brian Hill, founder and executive director of the Oral Cancer Foundation and cancer survivor. While historically, most oral cancers were caused by tobacco and alcohol, within the past couple of decades, HPV has become a key player in causing the cancer, explains Hill. He points out that the cells in the back of mouth are attractive to the virus. Lead researcher and neck cancer specialist Dr. Maura Gillison, conducted the retrospective study, analyzing the tumors and outcomes of 323 patients with stage 3 or 4 oropharyngeal cancer. Of these patients, 206 had HPV-positive tumors, and 117 tested negative [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-14T12:18:30-07:00June, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Safety features planned for radiation machines

Source: NY Times Author: Walt Bogdanich GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Manufacturers of radiation therapy equipment said at a patient-safety conference here Wednesday that within the next two years their new equipment and the software that runs it would include fail-safe features to help reduce harmful radiation overdoses and other mistakes. The absence of these fail-safe features contributed to the fatal radiation overdose of a New York City patient, whose death was the centerpiece of a lengthy article in The New York Times early this year that examined radiation accidents and how complex new technology contributed to those accidents. Two associations representing the biggest manufacturers of radiotherapy equipment said their equipment — including linear accelerators, which generate high-powered beams of radiation — will shut down if it does not detect that the treatment plan had been checked, that beam modifying devices were correctly placed and that the patient was properly positioned. Most machines are currently configured so that quality-assurance checks are at the discretion of the user, said David Fisher, executive director of Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance, one of the industry groups. The conference, convened by the Food and Drug Administration to discuss ways to reduce radiation overdoses, underdoses and misaligned exposures, was attended by regulators, technicians, medical physicists, doctors and vendors. Several speakers said that articles in The Times about radiation errors, particularly one on the death of Scott Jerome-Parks, a 43-year-old computer programmer, were the impetus for much of the discussion on how to make radiation therapy safer. “The recent attention to radiation dose [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-14T19:57:08-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Nashville hygienists partner with Oral Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of a silent killer

Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation Author: Staff Locals join together for second annual Oral Cancer walk and free screening event NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the second year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to promote oral cancer awareness for a disease that affects so many, yet so few know about. Hundreds of Nashville locals gathered for the "Boot Scootin' for Oral Cancer Screening II" event that recently took place at Nashville's Centennial Park to raise disease awareness, and funds for the Non-Profit Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF). The walk was lead by NADHS president Nicki Raines, who encouraged the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term. Her committee worked countless hours to ensure that the event would top last year's successful effort. Nicki's team was able to generate a local buzz for the walk through posters displayed at area Starbucks and Panera Bread stores, and via news releases sent to all local media. Local merchants rallied to support the event. Attendees were treated to coffee donated by Starbucks, water donated by Kroger's, and donuts donated by Krispy Kreme. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart and other Nashville area merchants came together to show their support by donating products for the auction and raffle that took place after the walk. Nashville superstars George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Brooks and Dunn were represented through autographed memorabilia, which brought their fans to the raffle. [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-14T19:59:10-07:00June, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

CDC: Global tobacco marketing is reaching young women

Source: CDC Author: Staff As World Recognizes “World No Tobacco Day 2010” Although women account for only about 20 percent of the world’s 1.3 billion smokers, tobacco use among women is on the rise. Particularly troubling is new data from three countries —Bangladesh,Thailand, and Uruguay—indicating greater exposure to cigarette marketing among young women (ages 15 to 24) than older women, according to a CDC study. In Bangladesh, exposure to bidi cigarettes (80.1 percent) and smokeless tobacco (69.9 percent) marketing was widespread among women and did not vary by age. Bidi cigarettes are hand rolled cigarettes made of tobacco that are primarily used in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Launched in 2007, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) is a nationally representative household survey of persons ages 15 years and older being implemented in 14 countries around the world. Bangladesh, Thailand and Uruguay are the first three countries for which 2009 data is available. Before GATS, no one standard global survey for adults has consistently tracked tobacco use and other tobacco control measures. “Tobacco kills more people each year than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined, and tobacco deaths are increasing steadily,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “The results of these surveys show one of the key reasons for the tobacco epidemic – marketing, including to women and girls. Countries around the world should establish and enforce comprehensive bans on advertising, sponsorship, and promotion of tobacco products,” he said. Other report highlights: In Bangladesh, 1.5 percent of women are current smokers, compared with 44.7 percent [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-14T19:58:02-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

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