Oral Cancer Foundation News Team – A – Page 230

Periodic CT detects pulmonary metastases among head and neck cancer patients

Source: CancerConsultants.com Author: staff Among patients with head and neck cancer who are at a high risk for metastases, periodic computed tomography (CT) scans can be highly effective for detecting pulmonary metastases. Head and neck cancers originate in the oral cavity (lip, mouth, tongue), salivary glands, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, pharynx (upper back part of the throat), larynx (voice box), and lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. Worldwide, head and neck cancer is diagnosed in approximately 640,000 people annually and is responsible for approximately 350,000 deaths each year. Some patients with head and neck cancer are at a higher risk of developing cancer spread (metastasis). One of the common places of metastasis is to the lung, referred to as pulmonary metastasis. Researchers continue to evaluate ways in which to detect metastasis so that detection and treatment may occur in its earliest phases. Researchers from Taiwan recently conducted a clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of chest CT scans in early detection of pulmonary metastases among patients with head and neck cancer. This trial included 192 patients over nearly 4 years, during which time CT scans of the chest were intermittently performed. Approximately one-third of patients had abnormal chest CT scans. Nearly 70% of patients with an abnormal scan ultimately demonstrated disease progression. The researchers concluded that patients with head and neck cancer who are at a high risk of developing pulmonary metastases may benefit from intermittent chest CT scans for early detection of pulmonary metastases. Patients with [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-29T06:46:41-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

How eating fruit and vegetables can improve cancer patients’ response to chemotherapy

Source: www.biocompare.com Author: staff UC Riverside study describes how naturally occurring apigenin facilitates the death of cancer cells The leading cause of death in all cancer patients continues to be the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy, a form of treatment in which chemicals are used to kill cells. Now a study by UC Riverside biochemists that focuses on cancer cells reports that ingesting apigenin – a naturally occurring dietary agent found in vegetables and fruit – improves cancer cells' response to chemotherapy. Xuan Liu, a professor of biochemistry, and Xin Cai, a postdoctoral researcher working in her lab, found that apigenin localizes tumor suppressor p53, a protein, in the cell nucleus – a necessary step for killing the cell that results in some tumor cells responding to chemotherapy. The study, published this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides a novel approach to conquer tumor resistance to chemotherapy, and suggests an avenue for developing safe chemotherapy via naturally occurring agents. Normally, cells have low levels of p53 diffused in their cytoplasm and nucleus. When DNA in the nucleus is damaged, p53 moves to the nucleus where it activates genes that stop cell growth and cause cell death. In this way, p53 ensures that cells with damaged DNA are killed. In many cancers, p53 is rendered inactive by a process called cytoplasmic sequestration. Apigenin is able to activate p53 and transport it into the nucleus, resulting in a stop to cell [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-29T05:51:00-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Bevacizumab better than gold standard imaging at detecting tumors

Source: www.biocompare.com Author: staff Scientists have developed a new imaging agent that can be used in scanning for tumours, and which gives a much clearer and more precise image than existing methods. The discovery has the potential to revolutionise pre-clinical cancer research and clinical diagnostic practice, and it makes use of compounds that have already been approved for treating patients: the anti-cancer drug bevacizumab (Avastin) and Copper-64, a radioactive copper nuclide, which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for some clinical trials. Dr Zheng Jim Wang told the 20th EORTC-NCI-AACR [1] Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Geneva today (Wednesday 22 October) that he and his colleagues had attached bevacizumab to a molecule called DOTA (a cyclic compound) and tagged it with a radioactive tracer, Copper-64 (64Cu). Bevacizumab is an antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a signalling protein released by tumour cells and which plays an important role in angiogenesis (the process by which a growing tumour creates its own blood supply). Currently, bevacizumab is being used to treat patients with advanced colorectal cancer and is being tested in several other metastatic cancers. When the researchers injected the compound (64Cu-bevacizumab) into mice with breast, lung and pancreatic cancers and then used PET/CT imaging to scan the animals, they found that it successfully targeted the cancer cells, accumulating in high concentrations in the tumours, and that it enabled clear and well-defined images of the tumours to be detected during scanning. When compared [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-29T05:46:11-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

‘A second opinion saved our lives’ say the patients who refused to accept their GP’s diagnosis

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk Author: Marianne Power We all trust our GPs to give the correct diagnosis. But doctors CAN get it wrong - with potentially disastrous consequences. These patients prove you should never be too embarrassed to ask for a second opinion. We all want to believe what doctors tell us, especially when they're assuring us that nothing is wrong. But sometimes there remains that niggling doubt - something tells you all is not right. 'Trusting your instinct is important. Doctors do make mistakes and sometimes you know your body better than anyone else,' says Dr Graham Archard, vice chairman of the Royal College of GPs. 'I can remember a patient who was convinced he had bowel cancer, but all the tests came back clear. He wanted a second opinion so we referred him to another consultant for more tests, which showed that he did have cancer. 'I don't know if the cancer developed between the first and second appointment or if the first consultant missed it, but the patient's instincts were right. As a GP I don't take it personally if someone asks for a second opinion. If any doctor does take offence, they are too full of themselves, and it's time to stop practising. 'If you are concerned, first talk to your GP, and allow them to explain how they came to their diagnosis. Sometimes this alone can make you feel better. 'If it doesn't, ask to see another GP in the practice or to be referred to a [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-28T08:28:49-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Prevention vs. prosecution

Source: www.rdhmag.com Author: Dianne Glasscoe-Waterson Malpractice. The very word strikes fear in the hearts and minds of all health-care providers. In fact, according to risk management statistics, every dentist can expect at least one malpractice lawsuit in his or her practice lifetime. What about dental hygienists? Are they at risk? Should dental hygienists invest in their own malpractice insurance? Read on to learn of the unpleasant circumstances surrounding four dental hygienists. Limits of Malpractice Coverage Carol practiced dental hygiene for 25 years without carrying malpractice insurance. She reasoned that there was no need since the doctor's malpractice insurance covered her. When Carol's employer was sued for failure to diagnose oral cancer, Carol was named as a codefendant in the suit, as she had seen the patient for a preventive care appointment within the past year. While being named in any lawsuit was unsettling, Carol figured she really had nothing to worry about. She knew the doctor had malpractice insurance. What Carol did not know was that lawsuits can actually exceed the limits of the doctor's malpractice coverage. According to Jeff Tonner, JD, monetary awards for failure to diagnose oral cancer are the most common lawsuits to exceed the limits of coverage. If a lawsuit is successful and the limits of coverage are exceeded, codefendants can be saddled with monetary damages, because the doctor is the primary defendant. False Security Jan chose not to carry malpractice insurance. She felt it was really a waste of money, since she knew her employer's [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-27T06:47:48-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Public knowledge and attitudes towards Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination

Source: 7th Space (Johns Hopkins Medical Letter) Author: Charlotte Devereaux et al. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine has undergone successful trials and has recently been approved for use for the primary prevention of cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge and attitudes towards HPV vaccination. Method: Semi-structured interview and questionnaire delivered in a street survey. Standardised HPV-related statements used to measure HPV knowledge and attitudes to vaccination. The setting was three different areas of Birmingham, to target a mix of social class and ethnicity. The sample population was composed of 16-54 year olds. Results: A total of 420 participants were recruited. Poor knowledge of HPV and its links with cervical cancer were observed. 81% had a knowledge score of zero. Knowledge about HPV was associated with different ethnic group and socio-economic group. The majority (88%) of participants were in favour of vaccination, with 83.6% indicating that they would allow a child under their care to be vaccinated. Conclusion: Initial responses to the proposed HPV vaccination within the UK public are favourable. However, knowledge levels are poor and media and health professional promotion are required to raise awareness. Authors: Charlotte Devereaux Walsh, Aradhana Gera, Meeraj Shah, Amit Sharma, Judy E Powell and Sue Wilson Source: BMC Public Health 2008, 8:368

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-26T17:08:08-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Cervical cancer vaccine called safe

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Author: staff Gardasil, the two-year-old vaccine that's designed to prevent cervical cancer, is safe, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Immunization Safety Office said a study of 370,000 doses given to girls and young women over the past two years found no evidence that the vaccine causes an increased risk of blood clots or other serious conditions, Bloomberg News reported. The CDC, which recommends the vaccine for girls starting at ages 11 and 12, based its findings on statistics from the Vaccine Safety Datalink, which uses medical data to test hypotheses about vaccine safety, the news service said. "There were no associations found that suggested an elevated risk," said John Iskander, acting director for the Immunization Safety Office, toldBloomberg. Critics of the vaccine, including some groups that worry that the inoculation could promote promiscuity, have contended that Gardasil may not be safe and could give women a false sense of security about sexually transmitted diseases. Gardasil protects against four types of genital human papillomavirus, HPV, which is spread through sexual contact and can cause cervical cancer in women. The U.S. study covered 190,000 girls and young women who received at least one dose of the vaccine's three-shot regimen. The CDC researchers compared medical data on those girls who got the vaccine with data for girls and young women who received other vaccines or none. "The results are really reassuring," said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of the infectious diseases division at Children's Hospital [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-24T08:55:32-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Altria prices offset cigarette volume declines

Source: Associated Press (ap.google.com) Author: Vinnee Tong Altria Group demonstrated its pricing power as interest in cigarettes dropped off further, and its CEO said Thursday that its buyout of smokeless tobacco maker UST positions it for long-term growth amid the widespread financial turmoil. The company's third-quarter profit fell 67 percent from a year ago, when results included the Philip Morris International business. But the maker of Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims said earnings from continuing operations rose 15 percent and it confirmed its full-year profit forecast. "Because of the economic uncertainties we all face, Altria is taking steps now to continue adding value to shareholders over the long term," Chief Executive Michael Szymanczyk said. One of the ways Altria — owner of No. 1 U.S. cigarette maker Philip Morris USA — will expand is acquiring UST Inc., maker of Copenhagen and Skoal. But because of difficulties in the credit market, Szymanczyk said it had become more expensive to finance the acquisition. The deal passed antitrust review last month, and the company plans to schedule a special meeting in December to let shareholders vote on it. Szymanczyk expects the deal to close no later than the first week of January. Altria also reported net income of $867 million, or 42 cents per share, in the quarter that ended Sept. 30. That compares to $2.63 billion, or $1.24 per share, a year earlier. Richmond, Va.-based Altria, which spun off the international business in March, said revenue rose 5 percent to $5.24 billion. [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-24T08:05:23-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Top award for mouth cancer guru

Source: www.dentistry.co.uk Author: staff A doctor who says he has a ‘mission to raise awareness' of mouth cancer has won a top award in recognition of his work. Dr Vinod Joshi – founder of the UK's leading mouth cancer charity, the Mouth Cancer Foundation – earned it for Best Patient Support Initiative at the Pfizer Oncology Awards. Dr Chris Nutting, President of the British Oncological Association (BOA), presented him with his award – and a £1,500 research grant. Dr Joshi achieved outstanding success through the restorative dentistry oncology clinic initiative to create a patient website and patient support charity. In January 2002, he launched the UK website to cater for the unmet needs of his patients and similar patients across the nation, focusing on mouth cancer awareness, early Detection and patient information and support. The unique feature of the members' forum and message board added in 2003 enables patients and carers to offer each other support, advice and encouragement. The Pfizer Oncology Awards are designed to recognise and reward teams as well as individuals who stand out from their peers – whatever their speciality, level of expertise or position. Dr Chris Nutting says: ‘As President of the BOA, I am delighted to have chaired the awards again this year. It has been a genuine pleasure for me to review this year's entries. They have all demonstrated a wide range of impressive achievements in oncology care.' BOA provides a multidisciplinary forum for the presentation and discussion of cancer research and development. [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-24T06:57:32-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Favourable impact of intensity-modulated radiation therapy on chronic dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer

Source: British Journal of Radiology (2008) 81, 865-871 Authors: A. K. Anand, MD et al. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) on the incidence and severity of chronic dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer. 62 evaluable patients with head and neck cancer who were treated with IMRT with or without concurrent chemotherapy were analysed. The majority of the patients (77.4%) had advanced locoregional disease. 45 patients underwent definitive IMRT and 17 received post-operative IMRT. Concurrent chemotherapy was given to 29 of the 45 patients treated with definitive IMRT. The average prescribed dose to clinical target volume (CTV)1 was 66–70 Gy (definitive IMRT) and 56–62 Gy (post-operative IMRT); 60 Gy to CTV2; 54 Gy to CTV3; and 50–52 Gy to the supraclavicular area. At a median follow-up of 19 months, 2-year actuarial locoregional control and survival was 77% and 74%, respectively. At 6 months after IMRT, chronic dysphagia was Grade 0 in 77.1% of patients, Grade 1 in 10.5% and Grade 2 in 12.3%. Acute mucositis showed no correlation with long-term dysphagia. The percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or nasogastric tube was removed in all of the patients within 8 weeks of completion of treatment. Xerostomia was Grade 0 in 61.4% of patients, Grade 1 in 31.5% and Grade 2 in 7% of patients. In conclusion, IMRT conferred a major favourable impact on chronic dysphagia in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers, with satisfactory locoregional control. Authors: A. K. Anand, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-10-24T06:49:50-07:00October, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

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