Oral Cancer News – Page 128 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

Swallowing exercises preserve function in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation

Source: http://www.newsfix.ca/ Author: staff A study at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation as part of their treatment were less likely to need a feeding tube or suffer unwanted side effects such as worsening of diet or narrowing of the throat passage if they performed a set of prescribed swallowing exercises — called a “swallow preservation protocol” — during therapy. The study, conducted from 2007 to 2012, was led by Dr. Marilene Wang, a member of the Jonsson Cancer Center and professor-in-residence in the department of head and neck surgery at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. The study was published online by the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and will appear later in the journal’s print edition. Surgery and radiation have been the traditional treatments for head and neck cancer, but with the advent of improved and targeted chemotherapy, many types of this disease are treated with chemotherapy and radiation, (chemoradiation) in the hope of preserving the tissue and structure. But, even when tissue and structure are preserved, patients do not always retain their ability to swallow naturally and normally. Most patients who receive chemoradiation have significant side effects during treatment and for a long time after recovery. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) is one of the most common unwanted side effects of radiation and chemoradiation, and is one of the main predictors of diminished quality of life for the patient after treatment. Wang’s study was designed to evaluate the swallow preservation [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-11-19T14:59:39-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Global trends in oral cancers

Source: www.dailyrx.com Author: staff It used to be that smoking and drinking alcohol were the biggest risk factors for cancers that develop in the mouth and throat. Those trends may be changing, according to a new study. That new study uncovered that cancers that appear in the throat right behind the mouth have increased, primarily in developed countries. The trend has been most prevalent in men under the age of 60, the researchers found. These increases, the authors suggested, may be linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that’s associated with a number of cancers, including oral cancers. Anil K. Chaturvedi, PhD, of the National Cancer Institute, led this study that examined incidence trends for oropharyngeal (part of the throat behind the mouth) and oral cavity (mouth) cancers in 23 countries across four continents. The researchers examined the countries’ cancer registry data for the years 1983 to 2002. In the study’s introduction, the authors noted that oral cavity cancers (OCC) have declined recently in most parts of the world due to the declines in tobacco use. At the same time, oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) have risen over the past 20 years in some countries. OPC rates were compared to those of OCC and lung cancers to distinguish the potential role of HPV from smoking-related cancer trends. The researchers tracked specific OPC sites, including base of the tongue, tonsils, oropharynx and pharynx (throat). OCC sites included the tongue, gums, floor of the mouth, palate (roof of the mouth) and other [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-11-19T14:42:18-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

HPV Oral Cancer: Low Risk for HPV Transmission

Source: MedScapeBy: Zosia ChusteckaPublished: June 6, 2013 CHICAGO, Illinois — Because human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted through sexual contact, patients with HPV-related cancer often ask whether their partners are at risk and whether they should they change their sexual practices. For patients with HPV-related oral cancers, data from the Human Oral Papillomavirus Transmission in Partners Over Time (HOTSPOT) study, presented here at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®), will be reassuring. In the small pilot study of 166 patients with HPV-related oral cancer and 94 long-term partners, researchers measured HPV DNA in oral rinse samples taken at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. The results show that the partners do not appear to be at increased risk for HPV infection, so they are not at increased risk for HPV-related oral cancer, the researchers conclude. "This is reassuring for patients and their partners," said lead author Gypsyamber D'Souza, PhD, MPH, MS, from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. At a press briefing, she explained that patients are often anxious about this issue, and has heard of instances where it has led to divorce. "Couples who have been together for several years have likely already shared whatever infections they have and no changes in their physical intimacy are needed." However, "with new partners, caution is always advised," she added. Results Not Surprising The results are not surprising, Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, told Medscape Medical News. [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-11-11T13:32:20-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Incidence and clearance of oral human papillomavirus infection in men: the HIM cohort study

Source: The LancetPublished: September 7, 2013By: Aimée R Kreimer PhD, Christine M Pierce Campbell PhD, Hui-Yi Lin PhD, William Fulp MS, Mary R Papenfuss MS, Martha Abrahamsen MPH, Prof Allan Hildesheim PhD, Prof Luisa L Villa PhD, Jorge J Salmerón MD, Prof Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce PhD, Prof Anna R Giuliano PhD Summary Background Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes a subset of oropharyngeal cancers. These cancers disproportionately affect men, are increasing in incidence, and have no proven prevention methods. We aimed to establish the natural history of oral HPV infection in men. Methods To estimate incidence and clearance of HPV infections, men residing in Brazil, Mexico, and the USA who were HIV negative and reported no history of anogenital cancer were recruited into the HPV Infection in Men (HIM) cohort study. A subset of the cohort who provided two or more oral rinse-and-gargle samples with valid HPV results and who completed a minimum of 2 weeks of follow-up were included in this analysis. Oral rinse-and-gargle samples and questionnaire data were obtained every 6 months for up to 4 years. Samples were analysed for the presence of oncogenic and non-oncogenic HPV infections by the linear array method. Findings 1626 men aged 18—73 years and with a median follow-up of 12·7 months (IQR 12·1—14·7) were included in the analysis. During the first 12 months of follow-up, 4·4% (95% CI 3·5—5·6; n=115 incident infections) of men acquired an incident oral HPV infection, 1·7% (1·2—2·5; n=53 incident infections) an oral oncogenic HPV infection, and 0·6% (0·3—1·1; [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-11-08T12:50:43-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Incidence of oral human papillomavirus infection

Source: The LancetPublished: November 9, 2013By: Zoe R. Edelstein, Stephen Schwartz, Laura A. Koutsky Aimée Kreimer and colleagues (Sept 7, p 877)1 report an annual incidence of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of 4·4% in an international cohort of men (aged 18—73 years; n=1626; specimen collection every 6 months). We would like to offer a methodological explanation for the difference between this estimate and our estimate of 12·3% from a cohort in Seattle, WA, USA (aged 18—24 years; n=212; specimen collection every 4 months).2 There are several potential explanations, including differences in study population, sample size, and specimen collection schedule. We suggest that one of the main reasons is the difference in specimen collection method. Kreimer and colleagues measured HPV DNA using an oral rinse and gargle, whereas we used both an oral rinse and gargle and a self-collected swab of the back of the throat. In our paper, we also reported an incidence of 6·3% of oral HPV infection on the basis of the rinse-and-gargle method alone, which is closer to the 4·4% reported by Kreimer and colleagues. Pickard and colleagues3 estimated oral HPV incidence of 5·7 per 1000 person-months using a rinse-and-gargle method in a cohort of male and female US college students followed up for 3 months—corresponding to a 6·8% annual incidence. The similarity between these incidence estimates suggests that, to date, there is little evidence that oral HPV infection risk varies greatly across studies that differ in the composition of their study populations. * This news [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-11-08T12:51:17-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

HPV Can Damage Genes and Chromosomes Directly, Whole-Genome Sequencing Study Shows

Press release from the James Cancer Center COLUMBUS, Ohio – The virus that causes cervical, head and neck, anal and other cancers can damage chromosomes and genes where it inserts its DNA into human DNA, according to a new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). It’s long been known that cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) produce two viral proteins, called E6 and E7, which are essential for the development of cancer. However, they are not sufficient to cause cancer. Additional alterations in host-cell genes are necessary for cancer to develop. Here, scientists identified a new mechanism by which HPV may damage host DNA directly and contribute to cancer development. Published in the journal Genome Research, this laboratory study used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the relationship between the HPV and host genomes in human cancers. “Our sequencing data showed in vivid detail that HPV can damage host-cell genes and chromosomes at sites of viral insertion,” says co-senior author David Symer, MD, PhD, assistant professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics at the OSUCCC – James. “HPV can act like a tornado hitting the genome, disrupting and rearranging nearby host-cell genes,” Symer explains. “This can lead to overexpression of cancer-causing genes in some cases, or it can disrupt protective tumor-suppressor genes in others. Both kinds of damage likely promote the development of cancer.” “We observed fragments of the [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-11-08T12:21:37-07:00November, 2013|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

A great company teams up with great employees to raise money for Oral Cancer

As a result of a great company and their employees, at a second annual 5K run and two mile walk for Team Berry at a local event this year in South Carolina, their efforts have raised more than $2,900 which was donated to the Oral Cancer Foundation to be used for oral cancer research. Sixty-four employees, spouses and children of Berry Home Centers and Berry Iron and Metal Company participated in the 5K and walk this year, more than double the participants last year, because the companies were running for a cause. Both were running for Jeremy Blevins, 42, who passed away Aug. 3 after a courageous battle with oral cancer, and his family. Jeremy is the nephew of Tom and Kyra Bishop who own Berry Home Centers and Berry Iron and Metal Company and also the nephew of Steve Kegley, Kyra’s brother and manager of the Abingdon Berry Home Centers’ store. Berry’s offered to donate $20 for every mile walked or run by employees in this year’s race to the Oral Cancer Foundation in Jeremy’s honor. Employees completed a 145.1 miles during the 5K and 2 mile walk, so Berry’s donated $2,902 to the Oral Cancer Foundation as a result. Jeremey Blevins wife, Shelley Blevins, pictured above with their son, Bise, and friend, is also coordinating the inaugural Oral Cancer Foundation Run For Awareness in Memory of Jeremy Blevins on Saturday, February 1, 2014. The event will take place at Springmaid Park located at Baxter Village. Please visit the [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-11-05T11:25:04-07:00November, 2013|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Merck’s Experimental HPV Vaccine Shows Promise in Late Stage Trial

Source: Nasdaq By: Peter Loftus Published: November 3, 2013 An experimental Merck & Co. vaccine appeared to provide broader protection against a cancer-causing virus than the company's Gardasil shot in clinical trials. Merck said the study results support its plan to submit the new vaccine, code-named V503, for U.S. regulatory approval by year's end, which could lead to market launch next year at the soonest. Merck expects health-care providers to eventually switch to V503 if the product receives marketing approval. Some analysts expect its annual sales could exceed $1 billion. "The case for using V503 is even stronger than the case for using Gardasil, which was already strong," said Roger Perlmutter, head of Merck's research and development unit. Dr. Perlmutter has singled out V503 as one of the programs Merck will focus on as it overhauls its R&D unit in a bid to recover from a series of setbacks. Gardasil, launched in 2006, was the first vaccine to protect against human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer in women and other less-common types of cancer in males and females. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HPV vaccination of boys and girls ages 11 and 12, though it is approved to be given to people ages 9 to 26. GlaxoSmithKline also sells an HPV vaccine called Cervarix. Gardasil is designed to protect against four strains of HPV, two of which are believed to be responsible for about 70% of all cervical [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-11-05T11:13:34-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Vitamin E may have adverse effect in head and neck cancer

Source: www.tele-management.ca According to a clinical trial, vitamin E supplements may increase the risk of a secondary tumor in those with head and neck cancer. Previous studies have suggested that a low dietary intake of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C might be linked to an increased risk of cancer. But there is no clear evidence that taking supplements decreases the risk. Researchers in Quebec, Canada, report on a trial of vitamin E and beta-carotene, which is related to vitamin A, in patients with head and neck cancer. The patients took either supplements or placebo during radiation therapy and afterwards. The beta-carotene was stopped after a year, because a trial showed that those taking it who also smoked had an increased risk of getting lung cancer. The current trial showed that those on vitamin E were at increased risk of developing a second cancer while they were on the supplement, compared to those on placebo. But their risk was lower once the supplements had stopped. Overall, there was no difference between the two groups after eight years. These patients were at high risk anyway, so it is not really clear whether the results can be generalized to the whole population. There is clearly more research to be done before we can be clear whether vitamins can help in the fight against cancer.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-11-05T07:40:00-07:00November, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Dental Implants Installed in Irradiated Jaws – A Systematic Review

Source: Journal of Dental ResearchPublished: October 24, 2013By: 1. L. Chambrone12. J. Mandia Jr23. J.A. Shibli34. G.A. Romito1,*5. M. Abrahao21. 1Division of Periodontics, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil 2. 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 3. 3Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, SP, Brazil 1. ↵*[email protected] Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the survival rate of titanium implants placed in irradiated jaws. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies assessing implants that had been placed in nongrafted sites of irradiated patients. Random effects meta-analyses assessed implant loss in irradiated versus nonirradiated patients and in irradiated patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. Of 1,051 potentially eligible publications, 15 were included. A total of 10,150 implants were assessed in the included studies, and of these, 1,689 (14.3%) had been placed in irradiated jaws. The mean survival rate in the studies ranged from 46.3% to 98.0%. The pooled estimates indicated a significant increase in the risk of implant failure in irradiated patients (risk ratio: 2.74; 95% confidence interval: 1.86, 4.05; p < .00001) and in maxillary sites (risk ratio: 5.96; 95% confidence interval: 2.71, 13.12; p < .00001). Conversely, HBO therapy did not reduce the risk of implant failure (risk ratio: 1.28; 95% confidence interval: 0.19, 8.82; p = .80). Radiotherapy was linked to higher implant failure in the maxilla, and HBO therapy did not improve implant survival. Most included publications reported data on [...]

Charlotte Parker2013-10-31T17:53:12-07:00October, 2013|Oral Cancer News|