About Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A has created 2444 blog entries.

HPV-positive oropharnygeal cancer has better prognosis than tobacco-induced cancer

Source: www.enttoday.org Author: Alice Goodma Mounting evidence suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer has an improved prognosis compared with HPV-negative disease. The most recent supportive evidence comes from an analysis of a Phase III trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Our study showed that HPV status is as strong a predictor of outcome as cancer stage for patients with oropharyngeal cancers, even after considering other factors such as age and smoking history, said lead author Maura Gillison, MD, PhD, Professor of Hematology and Oncology, Epidemiology, and Otolaryngology at Ohio State University in Columbus. Dr. Gillison said that tumor HPV status should now be part of the routine workup of patients with oropharyngeal cancers. Oropharyngeal cancers are mainly attributable to chronic tobacco use and smoking, or to HPV infection. Retrospective analyses, meta-analysis, and small trials have suggested that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is a distinct entity, and the present Phase III study provides the most compelling evidence, she said, because it is the largest study to date. It is not clear why HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer has a better prognosis. In the trial, HPV-positive patients were younger, mostly Caucasian, and had improved performance status and smaller tumors. Dr. Gillison said that these factors could have a positive influence on survival. Survival Benefit The retrospective correlative analysis of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0129, presented by Dr. Gillison, focused on outcome according to HPV status. The randomized study included 206 patients with cancers positive for [...]

2010-08-16T10:19:03-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

High-risk human papillomavirus in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Source: cebp.aacrjournals.org Authors: Annika Antonsson et al Background: Although most cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in western populations have been attributed to high levels of exposure to tobacco and alcohol, infectious agents have been postulated as possible causes, particularly human papillomavirus (HPV). Methods: To explore this issue, we analyzed HPV DNA prevalence and HPV types together with lifestyle factors, in relation to tumor stage and survival in a low-incidence population. Archived tumor samples from a nationwide cohort of 222 ESCC patients were tested for the presence of HPV DNA by PCR; positive samples were sequenced to determine HPV type, and p16INK4a status was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Of 222 ESCC patients, 8 tested HPV positive (prevalence, 3.6%; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-6.1%), of which 6 were HPV-16 positive and 2 were HPV-35 positive. Four of the eight HPV-positive tumors overexpressed p16INK4a. None of 55 normal esophageal tissue samples from healthy participants had any detectable HPV. Although the numbers were low, it seemed that patients with HPV-positive ESCC tumors were younger than those with HPV-negative tumors (mean age, 60.8 versus 65.3 years, P = 0.18) and had higher body mass index (BMI) throughout life (mean current BMI of 25.1 for HPV positive, 22.2 for HPV negative, P = 0.08; mean BMI at 20 years of 25.8 for HPV positive, 22.1 for HPV negative, P = 0.003). We found no difference between patients with HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors with respect to other lifestyle factors. Conclusions: These findings suggest a very low [...]

2010-08-11T16:20:50-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Fluorescent probe for oral cancer

Source: www.physorg.com Author: staff/ UC Davis Approximately 43,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with tumors of the mouth, pharynx and larynx each year. The main risk factor is smoking, but a recent rise in cases has been linked to human papillomavirus. Most cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. "There's a lot out there about breast, prostate and brain cancer, but people are not so aware about oral cancer and its devastating consequences," said Laura Marcu, a professor of biomedical engineering at UC Davis. "People don't think to look for it, and there isn't any routine screening." Marcu's laboratory collaborated with Dr. Gregory Farwell's group in the Department of Otolaryngology at the UC Davis Cancer Center to develop the fiber-optic probe. The probe stimulates molecules in the patient's tissues with a laser. Some of these molecules naturally respond by re-emitting fluorescent light. The device rapidly detects and analyzes this light using a process called "time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy" (TR-LIFS), which provides information about the types of molecules present. During surgery, blood can distort the intensity of the fluorescence signal but not its duration. By using sensitive measurements of the change in fluorescence over time, surgeons can see the tumor margins even as they are cutting the tissue. Based on encouraging results in animal tests, Marcu and Farwell's team recruited nine human volunteers from among patients who arrived at the UC Davis Medical Center for surgical therapy of the mouth, throat and larynx. They compared readings [...]

2010-08-04T12:55:16-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

New types of smokeless tobacco present growing risks for youth: products mistaken for candy

Source: thenationshealth.aphapublications.org Author: Kim Krisberg The decline in the U.S. smoking rate is arguably one of the biggest achievements in the nation’s public health history. But as public health makes inroads, the tobacco industry is pushing back, offering new ways to deliver nicotine and hook lifelong customers. As nonsmoking ordinances sweep across the country, tobacco manufacturers are marketing new smokeless and spitless tobacco products, often selling them as complementary products to cigarettes — pushing the message that such “novel” tobacco products can deliver a nicotine fix whether smoking is allowed or not. Going by brand names such as Orbs, Snus and Taboka, the products are smokeless and spitless, often dissolving in a user’s mouth. For example, Marlboro Snus comes in a teabag-like pouch that a user puts between the cheek and gum and then discards after about 30 minutes. Camel Orbs look similar to small pieces of candy — almost like a Tic Tac — come in flavors such as “fresh” and “mellow,” and dissolve in a user’s mouth. Camel Sticks and Camel Strips also dissolve in a user’s mouth. A recent Camel Snus ad reads “Boldly Go Everywhere” and “Break Free.” While such products have yet to catch on in a significant way in the United States, public health advocates warn not to underestimate the influence of tobacco marketing, especially in regard to young people. They also warn that tobacco companies seem to be portraying the novel products as a “healthier” alternative to cigarettes or as a quitting aid. [...]

2010-08-04T12:51:16-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Marginal misses after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Source: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, July 23, 2010 Author: AM Chen et al. Purpose: To describe the spatial distribution of local-regional recurrence (LRR) among patients treated postoperatively with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for head and neck cancer. Methods and materials: The medical records of 90 consecutive patients treated by gross total resection and postoperative IMRT for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck from January 2003 to July 2009 were reviewed. Sites of disease were the oral cavity (43 patients), oropharynx (20 patients), larynx (15 patients), and hypopharynx (12 patients). Fifty patients (56%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Results: Seventeen of 90 patients treated with postoperative IMRT experienced LRR, yielding a 2-year estimate of local regional control of 80%. Among the LRR patients, 11 patients were classified as in-field recurrences, occurring within the physician-designated clinical target volume, and 6 patients were categorized as marginal recurrences. There were no out-of-field geographical misses. Sites of marginal LRRs included the contralateral neck adjacent to the spared parotid gland (3 patients), the dermal/subcutaneous surface (2 patients), and the retropharyngeal/retrostyloid lymph node region (1 patient). Conclusions: Although the incidence of geographical misses was relatively low, the possibility of this phenomenon should be considered in the design of target volumes among patients treated by postoperative IMRT for head and neck cancer. Authors: AM Chen, DG Farwell, Q Luu, LM Chen, S Vijayakumar, and JA Purdy Authors' affiliaton: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California

2010-08-03T18:25:07-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

NYU College of Dentistry receives $3.5 million gift to support oral cancer research, treatment, and training initiatives of Dr. Brian Schmidt

Source: www.nyu.edu/dental/news Author: staff The NYU College of Dentistry has received an anonymous gift in the amount of $3.5 million to support the oral cancer research, treatment, and training initiatives of Dr. Brian L. Schmidt, the newly appointed Director of the Bluestone Center for Clinical Research. These initiatives center on early detection, pain control, and improved reconstruction in the treatment of oral cancer patients. They include: • Developing an innovative oral cancer pain and neuroscience research program. • Identifying genetic and proteomic markers at the time of diagnosis to predict the progression of an oral cancer and, subsequently, to tailor treatment based upon that prediction. • Investigating saliva as a cancer predictor, which might make it possible to follow a patient with a pre-cancerous lesion simply by giving a saliva sample that would be analyzed in the laboratory for certain predictive markers. • Establishing a yearlong postdoctoral research fellowship for investigators who wish to develop expertise in the area of cancer pain by focusing on relevant questions that must be addressed in the laboratory. • Improving oral cancer survivors’ quality-of-life by expanding a program dedicated to facial construction following surgical resection. Dr. Schmidt and his colleague Dr. John Dolan, winner of the National Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Division Award, will research and develop a prototype for jaw replacement, fabricated in titanium, to be delivered at the time of oral cancer resection to replace the patient’s missing jaws and teeth. “We are thrilled by the generosity of this unrestricted [...]

2010-08-01T15:03:09-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Marathon man: 75-year old-resident still running after all these years

Source: www.hudsonreporter.com Author: E. Assata Wright Don’t tell 75-year-old marathon runner Leslie Mayer he’s “amazing” for training for the upcoming Damon Runyon 5K Run, a cancer research benefit to be held Sunday, Aug. 15 at Yankee Stadium. And don’t tell him it’s “incredible” that he’s still active and fit “at his age.” “Let me tell you, there are people my age, people older than me, who can run in half the time I do,” he said. “There’s a 5K race in Teterboro, near the airport, and there was a man there, 70 years old, and he ran the race at 7 minutes and 48 seconds a mile. And he beat a friend of mine who is 53 years old by 10 seconds.” Mayer, a Secaucus resident for the past decade, has been running for about 35 years, and has used long distance running to help him deal with everything from problems at work to his own recent battle with cancer. “I found that running, even though it’s a serious exercise, it enables you to release all tension and stress, and enables you to do a lot of thinking and clear your mind. It’s the only sport where you’re really competing with yourself, because you’re challenging yourself to run faster at better times that you’ve done before. And you’re also challenging yourself to run farther distances.” Running is therapeutic Mayer, who works at a car dealership in Paramus, said he first discovered running years ago when he was working in New [...]

2010-08-01T14:54:17-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Featured clinical trial: electroacupuncture for radiation-induced chronic dry mouth

Source: www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin Author: staff Name of the Trial Randomized Pilot Study of Electroacupuncture for Chronic Radiation-induced Xerostomia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer (MAYO-MCS285). See the protocol summary 1. Why This Trial Is Important Head and neck cancers are often treated with external-beam radiation therapy 2. Although this treatment can be effective in controlling head and neck tumors, it may cause side effects 3 that can compromise a patient’s quality of life. Chronic dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is common among patients treated with radiation to the head and neck. This condition results from damage to the glands that produce saliva. Chronic dry mouth can have a major impact 4 on quality of life by causing pain and discomfort, affecting the ability to sleep, altering taste, and/or increasing the likelihood of dental problems. Some drugs are available for xerostomia induced by radiation therapy, but many patients experience only a partial improvement or no benefit at all. The drug amifostine 5 can help protect the salivary glands of some head and neck cancer patients from radiation damage, but this drug cannot be used in all patients. Some studies have suggested that acupuncture 6 can help relieve the sensation of mouth dryness in cancer patients who have undergone head and neck radiation therapy. Based on these studies and other evidence, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, are investigating the ability of a procedure called electroacupuncture to help improve the production of saliva and the quality of life of patients [...]

2010-07-31T08:00:30-07:00July, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Dental researchers discover Human Beta Defensin-3 ignites in oral cancer growth

Source: www.sciencedaily.com Author: staff with material from Case Western Reserve University Detecting oral cancer in its earliest stages can save the lives of the nearly 40,500 people diagnosed annually. But early detection has been difficult. Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine researchers discovered a biomarker, called human beta defensin-3 (hBD-3), which may serve as an early warning. The defensin is present in all oral cancers and associated with the early stages of oral cancer. "Using the biomarker to detect oral cancer holds potential for saving lives when the cancer is most curable. Annually some 10,000 people die from this cancer," said Ge Jin, assistant professor of biological sciences at the dental school. He led the study, which appears in the online journal PLoS ONE, published by the Public Library of Science. Oral cancer first appears as white or red lesions in the mouth, the same as noncancerous lesions. Often, the lesions are not biopsied, and cancer is not discovered until it becomes apparent in its later stages, when it has metastasized to other organs. Such a late-stage diagnosis is generally fatal and can result in costly surgeries and treatments or disfigurement that may include removing parts of the tongue, jaw and cheek. All this can be avoided with early removal of the lesion. The hBD-3 biomarker is one of many innate immune peptides found in the epithelial lining of the mouth. In a normal, healthy oral cavity, hBD-1, -2 and -3 ward off the hundreds of bacteria that [...]

2010-07-31T07:03:36-07:00July, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Herpes virus treats head and neck cancer patients

Source: www.healthcanal.com Author: staff A genetically engineered cold sore virus has been used to treat head and neck cancer patients in a Phase I/II clinical trial run by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. The herpes simplex virus, known as OncoVEX and owned by BioVex Inc, had been modified so it multiplies inside cancer cells but not healthy cells. It bursts and kills tumour cells and, by expressing a human protein, it also helps stimulate patients’ immune systems. The virus was injected into 17 patients’ cancer-affected lymph nodes in up to four doses, and the patients were also given radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Head and neck tumour shrinkage could be seen on scans for 14 patients (82.3%), while 93 per cent of patients had no trace of residual cancer in their lymph nodes during subsequent surgery to remove them. After an average follow-up time of 29 months (19 to 40 months), 82.4 per cent of patients had not succumbed to the disease. Only two of 13 patients given the virus treatment at a high dose relapsed. “Around 35 to 55 per cent of patients given the standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment typically relapse within two years, so these results compare very favourably,” Principal Investigator Dr Kevin Harrington from the ICR and The Royal Marsden says. “This was a small study so the results should be interpreted with caution; however the very high rates of tumour response have led to the decision to take this [...]

2010-07-31T06:55:58-07:00July, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
Read More
© - The Oral Cancer Foundation - Head & Neck Cancer IRS 501(c)3 Charity - 3419 Via Lido #205, Newport Beach, CA 92663 | Disclaimer / Privacy Policy
Go to Top