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Groundbreaking immunotherapy offers hope for difficult tumors

Source: www.targetedonc.com Author: Sabrina Serani In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Mark Dybul, MD, discussed a breakthrough method of immunotherapy in solid tumors. Mark Dybul, MD Treatments for difficult-to-treat tumors like pancreatic cancer and triple-negative breast cancer are lacking in availability and efficacy. However, Mark Dybul, MD, identified that a key to treating these cancers lies in retraining a patient’s immune system. Unlike some approaches using exogenous immunomodulators, this method focuses on the patient's immune system. The dendritic cells are genetically modified from another person, enhancing immune stimulation. The combination of allergenic cells from another person, genetically modified dendritic cells, and tumor pieces aims to retrain the immune system to recognize and combat cancer differently. Preliminary data show promising results. In an interview with Targeted OncologyTM, Dybul, chief executive officer of Renovaro Biosciences, professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University, and senior advisor at the Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, discussed how Renovaro’s breakthrough immunotherapy works and how it differs from currently available therapies. Targeted Oncology: What are some of the new immunotherapy technologies on the horizon? Dybul: The immunotherapies are, in our view, incredibly promising and exciting. [Renovaro’s] mission is to create a future free from toxic chemotherapy by retraining the immune system to recognize and control or eliminate a possible cancer and to have an ongoing ability to surveil and prevent recurrence. We believe it is very possible, and our preliminary data suggest that is the case. Our approach is to, again, [...]

2024-01-29T16:57:45-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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AI-based home saliva test detects cancer with over 90% accuracy

Source: biz.crast.net Author: Shawn Johnson An AI-based home screening test to detect mouth and throat cancer from saliva samples is now available in the United States. (Credit: Creative Commons) An AI-based home screening test to detect mouth and throat cancer from saliva samples is now available in the United States. (Credit: Creative Commons) An AI-based home screening test to detect mouth and throat cancer from saliva samples is now available in the United States, which is expected to revolutionize mouth and throat cancer detection. Based on technology approved as a “breakthrough device” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the saliva test can detect early signs of oral and throat cancer with more than 90 percent accuracy. Due to the lack of effective diagnostic tools, these cancers are often not diagnosed until they reach advanced stages, resulting in low survival rates. In a previous study, Maria Soledad Sosa of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Julio A. Sosa, now of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, led the study. Aguirre-Ghiso discovered that the ability of cancer cells to remain dormant is controlled by a protein called NR2F1. , This receptor protein can enter the cell nucleus and turn on or off several genes to activate a program that stops cancer cells from spreading. NR2F1 levels are usually low in primary tumors but increased in dormant disseminated cancer cells. NR2F1 protein levels then decrease once again when cancer cells begin to grow again and form [...]

2024-01-29T16:44:32-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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FDA clears oral stent solution for radiotherapy in head and neck cancer

Source: www.cancernetwork.com Author: Russ Conroy The FDA has granted clearance to Stentra, an oral stent solution, for use in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer, according to a press release from Kallisio.1 The solution combines patient oral data with advanced 3D printing to redirect radiation to the target tumor area and limit toxicity to surrounding tissue. Stentra was designed for use in combination with radiotherapy strategies including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The tool is believed to keep the patient’s tongue, lips, and other organs safe from the high-dose radiation target zone by immobilizing them. According to its developers, Stentra makes use of a “patient-customized solution for precise and targeted radiation therapy,” and manages toxicity effectively by protecting surrounding healthy tissue from intense radiation doses. Additionally, its mechanism allows patient-tailored oral stents to be formed in less than 5 days. “Designed to address each patient's unique treatment and anatomical needs, Stentra delivers an unmatched level of customization and effectiveness in addressing the critical need to safeguard healthy tissue during radiation therapy,” Rajan Patel, co-founder and chief executive officer at Kallisio, said in the press release.1 “FDA clearance is an exciting milestone in our journey to improve patient experiences and quality of life.” Eugene Koay, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, developed Stentra’s foundational technology. Investigators of a prospective observational study published in Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology reported that administering oral stents to survivors of oropharyngeal [...]

2024-01-23T09:32:03-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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New radiotherapy technique for treating head and neck cancer could reduce treatment times by nearly half

Source: www.iaea.org Author: Peter Lee, IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications A patient undergoing radiotherapy. (Photo: New Africa/stock.adobe.com)) More people with head and neck cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may be able to access radiotherapy, after research carried out by the IAEA showed that fewer but higher doses of radiation treatment resulted in similar clinical outcomes to standard radiotherapy treatments. Reducing overall treatment times for this type of cancer could help countries to shorten waitlists, enabling more patients to receive timely treatment while also reducing the cost and full treatment duration. It was the largest randomized controlled trial of its kind, involving 12 centres in ten LMICs – Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay. The results have been published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics. In 2020, there were over 945 000 new head and neck cancer cases globally causing 468 000 deaths. LMICs bore the brunt of this burden at an estimated 76 per cent of new cases and 84 per cent of deaths. Global efforts such as the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative are endeavouring to close this kind of gap through strengthening countries’ capacities to combat cancer by providing life-saving equipment and training. Yet many cancer patients – including in high-income countries but especially in LMICs – face long waitlists. Increased demands for radiotherapy, insufficient human resources, inadequate infrastructure and the concentration of care in national capitals and city centres all prolong [...]

2024-01-22T22:51:14-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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Brush biopsy enables early detection of oral cancer without surgery

Source: today.uic.edu Author: staff A new test invented by University of Illinois Chicago researchers allows dentists to screen for the most common form of oral cancer with a simple and familiar tool: the brush. The cancer detection kit developed by UIC dentists requires less than a minute of gentle brushing to collect a sample. (Photo by Lucia Adami) The diagnostic kit, created and patented by Guy Adami and Dr. Joel Schwartz of the UIC College of Dentistry, uses a small brush to collect cells from potentially cancerous lesions inside the mouth. The sample is then analyzed for genetic signals of oral squamous cell carcinoma, the ninth most prevalent cancer globally. The cancer detection kit developed by UIC dentists requires less than a minute of gentle brushing to collect a sample. (Photo by Lucia Adami) This new screening method, which is currently seeking commercialization partnerships, improves upon the current diagnostic standard of surgical biopsies — an extra referral step that risks losing patients who sometimes don’t return until the cancer progresses to more advanced, hard-to-treat stages. “So many patients get lost; they don’t follow up,” said Adami, associate professor of oral medicine and diagnostic sciences. “We’ve tried to keep our focus mainly on early Stage 1 and 2 cancers, so it actually works with the cancers that you want to detect.” The detection system works by looking for small segments of genetic material called microRNA that regulate the expression of genes. Research conducted by Adami and Schwartz found an [...]

2024-01-17T12:33:56-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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UC trial tests tongue exercises to improve swallowing function after stroke

Source: www.uc.edu Author: Tim Tedeschi Up to three-quarters of all stroke survivors have some form of difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) after a stroke. Dysphagia frequently leads to entry of food or liquid into the lungs and has significant impacts on patients’ overall health and quality of life. In the most severe cases, patients are no longer able to eat or drink at all or can die from aspiration pneumonia. Because eating and drinking are pivotal to participating in life socially, dysphagia can also lead to depression. A new trial at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute, funded by a $660,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, will test an at-home tongue endurance exercise to improve patients’ swallowing function. Research background Speech language pathologist and trial principal investigator Brittany Krekeler, PhD, said swallowing issues can sometimes be a “hidden” disorder, because it is usually secondary to other diseases. “You hurt for these patients when they can’t enjoy eating and drinking, and swallowing disorders can be a burden on family members as well,” said Krekeler, assistant professor and clinician-scientist at the UC College of Medicine’s Dysphagia Rehabilitation Laboratory. “From working with these patients clinically, we see how much it means for patients to be able to eat and drink again.” Krekeler said research into improving swallowing function is relatively new, as historically the problem was addressed by giving feeding tubes to patients with post-stroke dysphagia. But feeding tubes can fall out, can get infected and prevent patients from being able to enjoy [...]

2024-01-10T15:03:25-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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Enhancing oral function in patients with flaccid facial nerve palsy using upper and lower lip tensor fascia lata slings

Source: www.physiciansweekly.com Author: staff The following is a summary of “Improving the oral function of patients with upper and lower lip tensor fascia lata slings for patients with flaccid facial nerve palsy,” published in the December 2023 issue of Oncology by Charters, et al. For a study, researchers sought to determine the factors associated with the loss of tongue-tip sensation and to analyze the changes in sensory function after partial glossectomy for oral tongue cancer (OTC). A total of 64 people who had undergone partial glossectomy for primary oral topography and had been followed up for at least three months were included in the research. In this study, both qualitative and objective tongue sensory assessments of the native tongue tip were carried out. The evaluations that were carried out were qualitative. Several different types of information were acquired, such as information on the pathological stage, surgical reconstruction, and oncologic excision. The number of patients who reported having loss of tongue-tip sensation was 10, equivalent to 15% of the patient population. As a result of multivariate analysis, it was shown that increasing the depth of resection (DOR) is an independent predictor of the presence of loss of tongue-tip sensation. The risk of increased when it was present, increasing at a threshold DOR of 1.3 cm. In addition, during the qualitative tongue examination, it was discovered that it was associated with a worse subjective quality of life and a lower perceptive speaking performance for the individual. According to the results of the [...]

2024-01-10T14:45:51-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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How this startup uses AI to give speech-impaired people their voice back

Source: thenextweb.com Author: Linnea Ahlgren There is big tech — and then there is smaller tech with big impact. Dutch AI startup Whispp is using assistive voice technology to convert speech diminished by ailments such as stuttering, throat cancer, vocal cord paralysis, and ALS, into the person’s original, natural voice. The startup, based in Eindhoven, just secured a €750,000 seed funding round led by LUMO Labs to launch its assistive voice technology and its first paid and subscription-based calling app. Whispp will also use the funds raised to expand into European and US markets. Furthermore, the company is one of this year’s CES 2024 Innovation Award honourees. Voice distortions from stuttering or following afflictions such as throat cancer or ALS affect over 300 million people worldwide. Whispp’s proprietary technology uses recordings of a person’s “old” healthy voice to turn their real-time, affected speech into a clear voice. This is then modified with the intended intonation, modulation, and emotion. Those who still have a natural voice but for instance stutter, can simply record their current speech with the app. This audio-to-audio-based approach eliminates the typical latency of 2-3 seconds for text-to-speech technologies, which can create barriers and disrupt communication. The technology also builds on the fact that for several voice and speech disorders it is helpful to deliberately steer the voice towards whispering, due to neurological changes in the speech system. “Our big bold dream is to have Whispp’s assistive voice technology available on every smartphone and laptop worldwide to create [...]

2024-01-10T14:39:00-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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Predicting loss of tongue tip sensation following partial glossectomy for OTC based on resection depth

Source: www.physiciansweekly.com Author: staff The following is a summary of “Depth of resection predicts loss of tongue tip sensation after partial glossectomy in oral tongue cancer: A pilot study,” published in the December 2023 issue of Oncology by Cortina, et al. For a study, researchers sought to identify predictors of loss of tongue-tip sensation (LoTTS) and characterize alterations in sensory function after partial glossectomy for oral tongue cancer (OTC). 64 individuals who had undergone partial glossectomy for primary oral topography and had been followed up for at least three months were included in the study. Qualitative tongue feeling evaluations, as well as objective tongue sensory examinations of the native tongue tip, were carried out. The information gathered included information on the pathological stage, surgical reconstruction, and oncologic resection. 10 patients reported having LoTTS, which is 15% of the total. In multivariate analysis, increasing depth of resection (DOR) was shown to be an independent predictor of LoTTS. At a threshold DOR of 1.3 cm, the risk of LoTTS rose when it was present. Additionally, during the qualitative tongue evaluation, LoTTS was shown to be connected with a worse subjective quality of life and a poorer perceptive speaking performance. DOR is a significant prognostic feature essential for predicting post-treatment performance, according to the research findings. The patients who were at the highest risk of LoTTS and the morbidity that is linked with it were those who had a DOR that is elevated, especially over 1.3 cm. Several potential applications for [...]

2024-01-08T11:18:25-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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Does drinking alcohol cause cancer? Learn about the risks

Source: www.mskcc.org Author: Jim Stallard, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center The public is largely unaware of the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Mixed messages from experts may have added to the confusion. There is strong and consistent evidence that drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing a cancer, based on a growing body of research. Alcohol is estimated to account for 6% of cancer cases in the U.S. — more than 75,000 per year — and nearly 19,000 cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Alcohol is the third biggest controllable risk factor for the disease, after tobacco smoking and excess weight. But most Americans aren’t aware of this link, thanks to seemingly contradictory research and mixed messaging from public health experts. A study published in 2023 found widespread mistaken beliefs that the risk varies by beverage type, with the lowest cancer risk assigned to wine. Another study published in 2021 showed that nearly 70% of people did not even know that alcohol was a cancer risk factor. It’s disturbing that most people aren’t aware of the connection,” says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) psychologist Jennifer Hay, PhD, who studies how people perceive various cancer risks. “It’s startling, given that many members of the general population are genuinely concerned about their cancer risks. We clearly have a lot of work to do to raise awareness and change the perception.” More cancers could be prevented, she says, if people fully understood the risks of [...]

2024-01-04T09:57:07-07:00January, 2024|Oral Cancer News|
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