Oral Cancer News

Two Elements Predict Swallowing Difficulties after Radiotherapy

Source: International Medicine News LONDON – Nonglottic cancer and the presence of dysphagia before treatment are highly predictive for severe acute and late swallowing difficulties after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, according to new data from the DAHANCA 6&7 randomized trial. Patients with nonglottic cancer were more likely than those with other cancer types to experience severe dysphagia at both 6 and 12 months. Dysphagia before treatment was also associated with both acute and late severe swallowing difficulties. "The peak incidence of dysphagia is seen during the first 6 months after radiotherapy," Hanna Rahbek Mortensen, Ph.D., reported in an analysis of the DAHANCA (Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group) 6&7 trial findings at the European Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology Anniversary Congress. "After 1 year, however, there is no further increase in severity or prevalence," said Dr. Mortensen of the department of experimental clinical oncology at Åarhus (Denmark) University Hospital. The trial involved 1,478 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the glottic larynx, supraglottic larynx, pharynx, or oral cavity who were who were treated with five or six weekly fractions of radiotherapy in 1992-1999. The total dose of radiotherapy delivered was 66-68 Gy in 33-34 fractions. Efficacy data from the trial have already been published; they showed improved disease-specific but not overall survival of five vs. six fractions of radiotherapy (Lancet 2003;362:933-40). The aim of the present analysis was to use prospectively collected data from the trial to determine whether any factors could be used to establish which patients [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-18T13:29:04-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

Low-Dose Sorafenib may Boost Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer

Source: Darrell E. Ward Ohio State University Medical Center Adding low doses of the targeted agent sorafenib to the chemotherapy and radiation now often used to treat head and neck cancer might significantly improve patient care and quality of life, according to a new study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James). The findings suggest that adding sorafenib would maintain treatment efficacy while permitting the use of lower doses of chemotherapy and radiation and decreasing the treatment's harsh side effects. The triple combination was well-tolerated in an animal model. About 49,200 new cases of head and neck cancer are expected in the U.S. this year, and 11,500 people are expected to die of the disease. Treatment is often unsuccessful because the tumors become resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. "This pre-clinical study suggests that using low-dose sorafenib along with chemotherapy and radiation could have significantly milder side effects while maintaining effectiveness," says researcher and principal investigator Dr. Pawan Kumar, assistant professor of otolaryngology and a neck surgeon at the OSUCCC - James. "Our findings provide a scientific rationale to evaluate this combination strategy through a clinical trial," Kumar added. The results of the laboratory and animal study are published online in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, and they include the following: Sorafenib sensitized tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiation treatment by down-regulating DNA repair proteins (ERCC-1 and XRCC-1), and it decreased tumor angiogenesis [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-18T13:14:39-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

Sensitization of Head and Neck Cancer to Cisplatin Through the Use of a Novel Curcumin Analog

Source: EthiconEndo-Surgery.com Objective To determine whether a novel small molecule inhibitor derived from curcumin (FLLL32) that targets signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 would induce cytotoxic effects in STAT3-dependent head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) cells and would sensitize tumors to cisplatin. Design Basic science. Two HNSCC cell lines, UM-SCC-29 and UM-SCC-74B, were characterized for cisplatin [cis-diammineplatinum(II) dichloride] sensitivity. Baseline expression of STAT3 and other apoptosis proteins was determined. The FLLL32 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) dose was determined for each cell line, and the effect of FLLL32 treatment on the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 and other key proteins was elucidated. The antitumor efficacy of cisplatin, FLLL32, and combination treatment was measured. The proportion of apoptotic cells after cisplatin, FLLL32, or combination therapy was determined. Results The UM-SCC-29 cell line is cisplatin resistant, and the UM-SCC-74B cell line is cisplatin sensitive. Both cell lines express STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), and key apoptotic proteins. FLLL32 downregulates the active form of STAT3, pSTAT3, in HNSCC cells and induces a potent antitumor effect. FLLL32, alone or with cisplatin, increases the proportion of apoptotic cells. FLLL32 sensitized cisplatin-resistant cancer cells, achieving an equivalent tumor kill with a 4-fold lower dose of cisplatin. Conclusions FLLL32 monotherapy induces a potent antitumor effect and sensitizes cancer cells to cisplatin, permitting an equivalent or improved antitumor effect at lower doses of cisplatin. Our results suggest that FLLL32 acts by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation, reduced survival signaling, increased susceptibility to apoptosis, and sensitization to cisplatin.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-17T11:21:32-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

UCSF Professor of Oral Medicine speaks about Oral Cancer

Source: Dr.Bicuspid.com May 17, 2011 -- DrBicuspid.com is pleased to present a new feature series, Leaders in Dentistry, a series of interviews with researchers, practitioners, and opinion leaders who are influencing the practice of dentistry. For the first installment, we spoke with Sol Silverman Jr., DDS, a professor of oral medicine in the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry and head of one of the oral medicine clinics at UCSF. In addition to seeing patients in the clinic, his research is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions, as well as effective anti-inflammatory agents for autoimmune diseases that do not have adverse side effects. An advocate for the prevention and early detection of oral cancer and an expert in the treatment of oral cancers, Dr. Silverman has helped develop training programs for dentists to better detect oral cancer and education programs on smoking cessation to reduce the risk of oral cancer. Sol Silverman, DDS, University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. Image courtesy of the University of California, San Francisco. DrBicuspid: What is the greatest challenge we face today regarding oral cancer? Dr. Silverman: Professional and public education. The No. 1 thing for professionals is to perform examinations and pursue any deviations from normal signs and/or symptoms and to take part in their patients' lives. If they have a patient who smokes, they should try to get them to stop smoking or tell them not to start. On the other hand, it's public education. [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-17T18:33:10-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

The Diary of a Mouth Cancer Survivor

Latest figures say 30% of the population will get cancer at some stage in their lives. When this happened to photographer, Keith Hern, he wrote about the experience and photographed his treatment. Bangers & Mash is the resultant book in which Keith gives a detailed account of everything from teh mental trauma of diagnosis to the harsh side-effects, to the sheer relief of getting the all-clear. Bangers & Mash is no ordinary life story – it's a tourist's guide to cancer treatment in both words and pictures. 'Being treated for cancer is like being in a foreign country' is how author Keith Hern puts it, 'and what you really need is a guidebook'. Early on in Keith's battle against throat cancer he began to keep a diary but, being a photographer, Keith's diary is in pictures as well as words. Recruiting amused nurses and tolerant radiographers to hold the camera, Keith's book de-mystifies cancer treatment and chronicles every step of the way back to health. Not always a comfortable read, Bangers & Mash is fast-paced and completely compelling but, most importantly, is intended to help patients and their families understand "what they are in for'. The big lesson is that it's not all bad. The book doesn't pull any punches, but you do learn how it is possible to live through the treatment and get on with your life. The book has already been widely circulated through the nursing staff at the Royal Marsden hospital where Keith was treated, is [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-17T10:19:37-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

Hall of Fame Slugger, Killebrew Enters Hospice Care

Source: Yahoo News MINNEAPOLIS – Harmon Killebrew announced Friday that he no longer plans to fight his esophageal cancer and has settled in for the final days of his life, saddening friends and fans of the 74-year-old Hall of Fame slugger. In a statement released jointly by the Minnesota Twins and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Killebrew said "it is with profound sadness" that he will no longer receive treatment for the "awful disease." He said the cancer has been deemed incurable by his doctors and he will enter hospice care. "With the continued love and support of my wife, Nita, I have exhausted all options," Killebrew said. He added: "I have spent the past decade of my life promoting hospice care and educating people on its benefits. I am very comfortable taking this next step and experiencing the compassionate care that hospice provides." Killebrew, who's 11th on baseball's all-time home run list with 573, thanked his well-wishers for their support. "I look forward to spending my final days in comfort and peace with Nita by my side," he said. Killebrew lives in the Phoenix area and was receiving treatment at a branch of the Mayo Clinic nearby after his diagnosis in December. He expressed optimism at the time, saying he expected to make a full recovery while acknowledging he was in "perhaps the most difficult battle" of his life. Killebrew was able to travel to Fort Myers, Fla., in March for his annual stint as a guest instructor [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-16T11:44:28-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

New Smokeless Tobacco from Sweden is Gaining Popularity in the US

Source: DrugFree.org A type of smokeless tobacco popular in Sweden called snus is growing in popularity in the United States. While most recognize that it is a safer alternative to cigarettes or older forms of smokeless tobacco, others are concerned that it will attract young people, becoming a steppingstone to cigarettes, says a researcher who spoke this week at the Smokeless Tobacco Summit in Austin, TX. There is also concern that smokers may use snus in places where they can’t smoke, which will encourage them to keep smoking instead of quitting, says Lois Biener, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology at the University Of Massachusetts – Boston and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Survey Research, University Of Massachusetts – Boston. Snus (pronounced snoos) was first introduced in several U.S. test markets in 2006, and has been available nationwide since 2009. It is sold under several brands including Marlboro Snus and Camel Snus. The product is different from other types of smokeless tobacco in several important ways, Dr. Biener says. Snus is manufactured using a process that makes it lower in carcinogens called tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Snus also doesn’t stimulate saliva the way that snuff does and thus doesn’t require spitting. A person using snus puts a small pouch filled with the product between the lip and the gum. Dr. Biener’s research has shown that the primary group of snus users in the United States is male smokers. “There is very little trial of the product among females and virtually [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-16T11:25:33-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

Alcohol may lower oral cancer risk in older women

Source: www.drbicuspid.com Author: staff Contrary to previous research, postmenopausal women are not more vulnerable than men to alcohol-induced carcinogenesis in the oral cavity, according to a new study in Oral Oncology (May 5, 2011). While it has been well documented that alcohol consumption is a strong risk factor for oral cancer, "an ambiguous biphasic impact of moderate and excessive alcohol intake on the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers" also has been published, according to researchers from Semmelweis University in Budapest. To clarify the dose-related risk of alcohol consumption for oral cancer in men and women, they studied 608 nonsmoker patients (466 males and 142 females) with squamous cell oral carcinomas and 406 nonsmoker tumor-free controls (264 males and 142 females). The researchers recorded the drinking habits of both groups, dividing them into abstinent, moderate, and excessive consumers of alcohol. Blood glucose levels in male and female cases and the menopausal state of the women also were registered. The researchers found that while excessive alcohol consumption was a strong risk factor for both sexes, moderate alcohol intake proved to be an oral cancer risk for men but it decreased the risk for women. However, elevated blood glucose levels proved to be a risk factor for the predominantly postmenopausal women but did not affect the oral cancer risk among the men. These findings suggest that increased insulin sensitivity and higher estrogen levels are advantageous systemic effects of moderate alcohol intake and might reduce the risk for oral carcinoma in postmenopausal women, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-13T12:33:05-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

Ultrasound as effective as CT scans for most diagnoses, reducing the dangers of radiation

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com Author: staff For diagnosing head and neck ailments, tests that use radiation are always less desirable than those that don't. Otolaryngologists have a wide range of techniques available to them, including CT or "CAT" scans, MRI and ultrasound. CT uses significant radiation and MRI a lower amount, but ultrasound is a non-invasive, non-radiating technique. It does not require injection of radioactive contrast material and has no side effects. Now, a new study by Tel Aviv University exploring the efficacy of expensive and invasive CT scans has found that, in some cases, they don't offer a clinical advantage over a simple, inexpensive ultrasound procedure. In his study, Dr. Michael Vaiman of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine compared the efficacy of CT versus ultrasound scans for locating vertebral arteries in the throat, an important assessment that must be completed before a surgeon operates in the neck area of the body. After comparing the outcomes of 250 CT scans with 500 ultrasound images, he concluded that there is no advantage to using CT scans for most of these procedures, especially those that are used to locate anomalies in the neck to map major arteries before surgery can take place. Dr. Vaiman's results were published in the March issue of the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. When scans are sound CT scans combine X-rays with highly sophisticated computers to produce a number of pictures of the interior of the body. Traditionally, doctors have relied on these scans to find neck arteries [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-13T12:21:24-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|

Tobacco is Estimated to Kill a Billion People in this Century

Source: San Francisco Chronicle For all the debate and pain and money expended on our ongoing "drug war' - which is too much a failing, endless one - the worst drug of all is too often unmentioned, but kills and maims more than the rest of them put together. And it's legal. Tobacco abuse is projected to cause a billion premature deaths in this century; To put it another way, until and unless we have a nuclear war, the tobacco industry will continue killing more people than any other man-made cause. This true in just about any region, but here in California, there are nearly four million smokers, and as the American Lung Association reminds us, "Tobacco-related illness remains the number one preventable cause of death in the state, responsible for more than 36,000 deaths each year - that's more people lost to tobacco than alcohol, HIV/AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined." The national toll is about 438,000 deaths per year. One of them was my dad, but I hated tobacco long before it claimed him. In any event, the annual UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education symposium again keyed off on the "billion lives" estimate and showcased ongoing efforts to apply research to decreasing that daunting figure. This year, American Cancer Society CEO John Seffrin. PhD said that the 12 million cigarettes smoked each minute meant an ever-increasing morbidity and mortality, despite whatever progress, with a tripling of disease and death in the developing [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2011-05-13T10:36:59-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|