Oral Cancer News

Study questions whether or not HPV vaccination of boys is cost effective

Source: professional.cancerconsultants.com Author: staff Researchers from Harvard have reported that including boys in a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program may not be cost effective. The details of this study were published online in the British Medical Journal on October 8, 2009.[1] Human papillomaviruses are probably the sole cause of cancers of the cervix and have been associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, and rectum. Epidemiologic and molecular biology studies have also suggested that HPV infection may be associated with cancers of the head and neck. Gardasil® (Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus [Types 6, 11, 16, 18] Recombinant Vaccine) is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers caused by HPV types 16 and 18; genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11; and precancerous or dysplastic lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in girls and young women nine through 26 years of age. Cervarix®, a human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline, will probably be approved by the U.S. FDA this year. Male HPV can lead to genital warts, penile cancer, perianal cancer, anal cancer, and head and neck cancer. In addition, it contributes to HPV infection in women and subsequent cervical disease, including cervical cancer. Although males can spread the virus, and many other countries have approved the HPV vaccine for use in males, it has not been approved for males in the United States. However, researchers from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T21:19:32-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Human papillomavirus infection and cancers of the oropharynx

Source: www.ajho.com Author: Robert Haddad, MD Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA The author was invited to contribute his thoughts on the topic of human papillomavirus and cancers of the oropharynx. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is a major public health problem, affecting nearly half a million individuals worldwide each year. These cancers can arise from the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx and larynx.1 Treatment of head and neck cancer is often multidisciplinary, involving chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Patient symptoms can include a sore throat, ear pain, odynophagia, or hoarseness. Most patients will present with stage III or IV disease. The major risk factors are smoking tobacco and alcohol abuse. A large number of patients diagnosed with oropharynx cancer, however, have no history of smoking or drinking, and increasing epidemiological, molecular, and clinical evidence suggests that high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16, account for the development of these cancers.2-5 Most individuals are unaware of their infection and have no symptoms. HPV is one of the more common virus groups in the world, and more than 80 types of HPV have been identified. Some types (eg, HPV 6 and 11) are known to cause benign conditions such as genital warts, while other types (eg, HPV 16 and 18) are known to be associated with malignant, cancerous transformation. Although different types of HPV are known to infect different parts of the body, HPV usually infects the epithelial cells of skin and mucosa. The epithelial surfaces include all [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T21:15:33-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

DNA test could be key to targeting treatments for head and neck cancer

Source: news.biocompare.com Author: staff It is estimated that more than 7,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer each year in the UK and approximately 3,500 cases result in death. These cancers include tumours of the mouth, lips, throat and voice-box, and some have been linked to the sexually transmitted infection, HPV-16. Scientists at Liverpool analysed the DNA of more than 90 cancerous tissue samples to look for genes that indicated infection. The team found that nearly two thirds of tonsil tumour samples showed evidence of the HPV-16 gene. It is thought that chemical alterations in the virus's DNA trigger the production of proteins that can alter the rate at which cells grow and repair. This strongly increases the possibility of subsequent cancer development. Recent studies have found, however, that patients who have the HPV infection when they are diagnosed with cancer, respond better to chemotherapy or radiation therapy than those that do not have the infection. The work will be presented at the National Cancer Research Institute's (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Birmingham today. Mr Richard Shaw, from the School of Cancer Studies, explains: "Recent evidence demonstrates the possible involvement of HPV in the development of tonsil cancer, particularly in non-smokers. Interestingly, the treatment efficiency of chemotherapy and radiation, seems to differ between HPV positive and negative cases. We also need to find out why only a small percentage of people with this common infection develop this cancer. Our study, however, gives us a new lead towards a risk [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T21:04:03-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Scientists identify common HPV genotypes In Northern India, encourage vaccination

Source: www.sciencedaily.com Author: press release Although a wide spectrum of human papillomavirus is seen across the population of India, HPV-16 and HPV-18 are the most common types and a vaccination targeting these types could eliminate 75 percent of the cervical cancers in the region, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research Meeting. Cervical cancer caused by HPV is the most common cancer among Indian women, with an estimated 132,000 new cases and 74,000 deaths annually. "In terms of cancer death, India has one fourth of the global burden and when you standardize for age it is the highest in the world," said A. Raj Kumar Patro, a doctoral student in the Department of Microbiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. "Most women present with an advanced state of the disease and compliance with treatment is very poor." To effectively vaccinate against HPV, scientists need a greater understanding of the genotype. More than 100 HPV genotypes have been identified in humans and at least 40 are found in the anogenital tract, which makes HPV a moving target. Patro and colleagues examined 106 women with invasive cervical cancer, 524 women with an unhealthy cervix and a community-based population of women who underwent HPV testing. Among the women with invasive cervical cancer, 83 percent were linked with HPV-16 or HPV-18. Of those who presented with an unhealthy cervix, 15.5 percent had HPV. HPV-16 and HPV-18 were associated with 34.3 [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T13:28:27-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

CT characteristics of resolving ground-glass opacities in a lung cancer screening programme

Source: Eur J Radiol, October 3, 2009 Author: L Felix et al. Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating the computed tomography (CT) characteristics of resolving localized ground-glass opacities (GGOs) in a screening programme for lung cancer. Material and Methods: 280 patients at high-risk for lung cancer (221 men, 59 women; mean age, 58.6 years), divided into four groups (lung cancer history (n=83), head and neck cancer history (n=63), symptomatic (n=88) and asymptomatic (n=46) cigarette smokers), were included in a prospective trial with annual low-dose CT for lung cancer screening. We retrospectively reviewed all localized GGOs, analyzed the CT characteristics on initial CT scans and changes during follow-up (median 29.1 months). Variables associated with resolution of GGOs were tested using chi-square or Mann-Whitney tests. Results: A total of 75 GGOs were detected in 37 patients; 54.7% were present at baseline and 45.3% appeared on annual CT. During follow-up, 56.2% persisted and 43.8% disappeared. The resolving localized GGOs were significantly more often lobular GGOs (p=0.006), polygonal in shape (p=0.02), mixed (p=0.003) and larger (p<0.0001) than non-resolving localized GGOs. Conclusion: Localized GGOs are frequent and many disappeared on follow-up. CT characteristics of resolving GGOs show significant differences compared to persistent ones. This study emphasizes the importance of short-term CT follow-up in subjects with localized GGOs. Authors: L Felix, G Serra-Tosio, S Lantuejoul, J F Timsit, D Moro-Sibilot, C Brambilla, and G R Ferretti Authors' affiliation: Clinique Universitaire de Radiologie et Imagerie Médicale, Université Grenoble I, CHU Grenoble, France

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T13:24:48-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Routine Oesophageal Screening Recommended for Patients Previously Treated for Head and Neck Cancer: Presented at AAO-HNSF

Source: Docguide.com By Kristina Rebelo SAN DIEGO -- October 12, 2009 -- Patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer (HNCA) should be screened for oesophageal pathologies about 3 months out whether they are symptomatic or not, according a poster presentation here October 4 at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting 2009. Oesophageal pathology is extremely common in patients who have been treated for HNCA, according to the researchers. "When we talk about HNCA, the 5-year survival rate for this cancer is 50%," Peter C. Belafsky, MD, Head and Neck Oncological Surgery, University of California at Davis, and the Voice and Swallowing Center, Davis, California, told DocGuide. "We took a look at the oesophagus in patients after treatment for head and neck cancer and we did oesophagoscopy and biopsy, as indicated, on all of them. We successfully performed the oesophagoscopy on all 100 patients without complication and we had only 13% of the entire cohort who had a normal examination." The study included 100 patients who had chemoradiation and underwent follow-up oesophagoscopy. Patient demographics, symptom surveys, treatments received, reflux medications prescribed and oesophageal findings were prospectively determined. Findings on oesophagoscopy included stricture (22%), candidiasis (9%), peptic oesophagitis (67%), Barrett's (8%), and new primary tumours -- 1 hypopharynx, 2 oesophageal, and 1 stomach (4%); 13% had a normal oesophagoscopy. The mean age of the cohort was 64 years and 74% were male. The mean time between the cessation of treatment and endoscopy was 40 [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-10-13T10:26:11-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Surgical scalpel sniffs out cancer

Source: www.technologyreview.com Author: Katherine Bourzac In the hope of helping oncologists remove every piece of tumor tissue during surgery, researchers are developing new imaging tools that work in real time in the operating room. European researchers have now demonstrated that a chemical analysis instrument called a mass spectrometer can be coupled with an electroscalpel to create a molecular profile of tissue during surgery. The researchers have shown that the method can be used to map out different tissue types and distinguish cancerous tissue. The device will begin clinical trials next month. "When a surgeon is performing cancer surgery, he doesn't have any direct information on where the tumor is," says Zoltán Takáts, a professor at Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany. Instead, surgeons rely on preoperative imaging scans and on feedback from pathologists examining tissue biopsies under a microscope. "We want to provide a tool that's right in their hands, so that if they think a structure looks suspicious, they can just test it," says Takáts. Takáts realized that some surgical cutting tools, including electroscalpels, produce gaseous ions as a kind of waste product that are suitable for analysis with mass spectrometry. And these fumes, often called "surgical smoke," are already collected during surgery because they're harmful to the lungs. Takáts and his collaborators found that mass spectrometry of surgical smoke can be used to make a molecular map of a tumor. After the fumes are sucked into the mass spectrometer, the chemicals in the sample are identified and checked against [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T03:49:46-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Today’s smokeless tobacco is just as addictive and marketed to the young

Source: www.timesleader.com Author: Geri Anne Kaikowski It’s a misconception that just because you don’t smoke nicotine, it is less addictive and less dangerous than a cigarette. That’s the fallacy and danger behind a marketing ploy for a new take on a centuries old product, snuff. Whereas the old snuff, popular in the 1970s and 1980s in round paper containers or bags under the name Copenhagen or Skoal, was chewed and spit out, today’s snuff comes in fancy containers with equally avant-garde aromas and names. And unlike its predecessor, this snuff isn’t pinched into one’s gums or chewed, it’s inhaled through the nostrils. And it isn’t being used just by baseball players or teenage boys emulating their sports idols. Snuff is being marketed to tweens, teens and college students, both female and male, as hip, cool and healthy. It’s available for a nominal cost with a simple click online. Yet, it’s anything but harmless, according to an area ear, nose and throat specialist, who is concerned that in any form, nicotine is extremely addictive. And what makes snuff so dangerous is that it doesn’t fall under any federal regulations, according to a local tobacco expert. Many feel it’s the burning and inhaling of tobacco that exposes users to most carcinogens. Some specialists feel that, for health reasons, if you are going to use tobacco, you are better off using nasal snuff. But nasal snuff contains nicotine and is highly addictive, says Dr. Zephron Newmark, an ENT specialist with Geisinger [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-13T03:44:09-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Routine oesophageal screening recommended for patients previously treated for head and neck cancer

Source: www.docguide.com Author: Kristina Rebelo Patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer (HNCA) should be screened for oesophageal pathologies about 3 months out whether they are symptomatic or not, according a poster presentation here October 4 at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting 2009. Oesophageal pathology is extremely common in patients who have been treated for HNCA, according to the researchers. "When we talk about HNCA, the 5-year survival rate for this cancer is 50%," Peter C. Belafsky, MD, Head and Neck Oncological Surgery, University of California at Davis, and the Voice and Swallowing Center, Davis, California, told DocGuide. "We took a look at the oesophagus in patients after treatment for head and neck cancer and we did oesophagoscopy and biopsy, as indicated, on all of them. We successfully performed the oesophagoscopy on all 100 patients without complication and we had only 13% of the entire cohort who had a normal examination." The study included 100 patients who had chemoradiation and underwent follow-up oesophagoscopy. Patient demographics, symptom surveys, treatments received, reflux medications prescribed and oesophageal findings were prospectively determined. Findings on oesophagoscopy included stricture (22%), candidiasis (9%), peptic oesophagitis (67%), Barrett's (8%), and new primary tumours -- 1 hypopharynx, 2 oesophageal, and 1 stomach (4%); 13% had a normal oesophagoscopy. The mean age of the cohort was 64 years and 74% were male. The mean time between the cessation of treatment and endoscopy was 40 months and 77% of the HNCA [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-12T12:05:11-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Giving Gardasil to boys not worth the cost?

Source: HealthDay.com Author: Steven Reinberg But other experts dispute finding, and say young men need protection from STDs THURSDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The cost of giving boys the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine would outweigh any health benefit, researchers say. Last month, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended expanding use of the Gardasil vaccine to males aged 9 to 26 to protect them from genital warts, but the cost effectiveness of such a program was unclear at the time. But researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health conducted such an analysis comparing a girls-only vaccination program with a co-ed vaccination program. Currently, Gardasil is approved for girls aged 9 and over to protect them from cervical cancer. "This study found that while vaccine coverage and efficacy are high in girls, including boys in an HPV vaccination program generally exceeds what the U.S. typically considers good value for money," said lead researcher Jane Kim, an assistant professor of health decision science. The report is published in the Oct. 9 online edition of the British Medical Journal. Vaccination was considered a good value if cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from $50,000 to $100,000 per quality-adjusted life year, meaning the cost of the vaccine vs. the number of added years someone would gain by getting the vaccine. Assuming 75 percent coverage and lifelong protection, the researchers found routine vaccination of 12-year-old girls was a good value at less than $50,000 per quality-adjusted life year. However, adding preadolescent boys increased the cost-effectiveness ratio [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-10-12T11:54:27-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|