Oral Cancer News – Page 276 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

New tobacco product prompts concerns… No it’s not Marlboro…

Source: www.us-marlboro.com Author: staff Sweden brought us meatballs, the Nobel prize, Ikea, the Saab and the Volvo. But the country’s latest mark on the U.S. is not so benign: an oral tobacco product known as snus. The moist tobacco, which comes in a tea-bag-style pouch that goes under the upper lip, has public health experts divided. Some say snus (rhymes with loose) could save scores of lives if smokers switch to it, because the product contains far fewer carcinogens than do cigarettes, chew and snuff. Critics, though, say snus will only increase the number of people addicted to nicotine and poses a serious threat to anti-tobacco efforts. They say it could create a new crop of young nicotine addicts, while smokers could just as easily supplement their habit rather than substitute one for the other.Some Americans have been using snus by ordering it online or buying it in U.S. test markets, but R.J. Reynolds Tobacco didn’t release Camel Snus nationally until a few weeks ago, the first and only major tobacco company to do so. Philip Morris is selling Marlboro Snus in test markets. In Sweden, nearly a fifth of men in 2007 said they used snus daily, compared with 12 percent who smoke, according to Swedish Match, the country’s largest snus producer. The trend doesn’t hold for Swedish women: just 4 percent use snus and 16 percent smoke. Sweden also has fewer cases of lung cancer than the rest of Europe. Advocates of snus say it deserves at least [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-06T13:05:32-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Study finds 231 new genes associated with head and neck cancer

Source: www.eurekalert.org Author: press release A Henry Ford Hospital study has identified 231 new genes associated with head and neck cancer, one of the most deadly cancers responsible for 2.1 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States. Previously, only 33 genes were reported associated with head and neck cancer. "These new genes should advance selection of head and neck-specific gene targets, opening the door to promising new molecular strategies for the early detection and treatment of head and neck cancer," says study lead author Maria J. Worsham, Ph.D., director of research in the Department of Otolaryngology at Henry Ford Hospital. "It also may offer the opportunity to help monitor disease progression and a patient's response to treatment." Results from the study will be presented Sunday, Oct. 4 at the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Diego. This year alone, more than 55,000 Americans will develop head and neck cancer, which includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat and lymph nodes in the neck; nearly 13,000 of them will die from it. According to the National Cancer Institute, 85 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone. Treatment for head and neck cancer varies based on the location and stage of the tumor, but most often includes surgery, radiation therapy [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-04T18:29:05-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Altria to introduce new Marlboro snus and other smokeless tobaccos

Source: www.us-marlboro.com Author: staff In conformity with the recently revealed marketing strategy, Phillip Morris USA has been focused on developing and introducing new extensions of company’s flagship brands Marlboro, L&M and smokeless products, said Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman of Altria Group, the owner of Philip Morris. Altria also is eager to increase its leading position in the constantly growing market of snus, smokeless tobacco products, originating from Sweden. The top tobacco company across America will launch new snus variety under its best-selling brand, Marlboro, according to the chief executive of Altria Group based in Henrico County, VA. In addition, Philip Morris USA will attempt to expand its presence on the market of menthol cigarettes, by introducing a menthol extension of the mainstream discount brand L&M, Szymanczyk said during the Barclays Consumer Conference. And in the nearest future, Altria plans to launch another smokeless tobacco product, using its subsidiary, in order to capture more customers who prefer oral tobacco items. Altria CEO declared that they are currently working on the introduction of new variety of Copenhagen moist snuff with wintergreen flavor. According to industry analysts, the introduction of additional variety will contribute to approximately 9 percent increase of Copenhagen market share, from current 23% to almost 32%. According to Szymanczyk, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco and Philip Morris have joined forces to boost the sales of snus, smokeless tobacco items, selling as the extension of Marlboro brand. Snus resemble tea bags in appearance and are used for chewing and sucking with a flavorless [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-04T18:18:37-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Erbitux® may improve treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Source: professional.cancerconsultants.com Author: staff Researchers from Germany have reported that Erbitux® (cetuximab) improves response rate, time to disease progression, and overall survival of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma receiving Platinol® (cisplatin) and 5-FU. The details of this study appeared in the October 2009 issue of Annals of Oncology.[1] Esophageal cancer is relatively common and is very deadly. It 1998 there were approximately 12,300 new cases of esophageal cancer diagnosed in the United States and nearly 12,000 esophageal cancer deaths, making esophageal cancer one of the most deadly of all cancers. Most cancers of the upper two-thirds of the esophagus arise from squamous cells. Cancers of the lower esophagus most often arise from columnar epithelium and are adenocarcinomas. In the recent past, squamous cell cancers made up more than 80% of all esophageal cancers. Over the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of adenocarcinomas, which now account for one-third to one-half of all esophageal cancers. However, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus remains a major problem and is difficult to treat when metastatic. Usual treatment for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus includes a platinum compound and 5-FU. Erbitux is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to the outer domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It is currently approved, in combination with radiation therapy, for the treatment of locally or regionally advanced head and neck cancer, or as a single agent in the treatment of advanced, EGFR-expressing head and neck cancer [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-03T07:26:31-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Oral Cancer Foundation to donate screening devices to free clinics

Phoenix’s Native American Community Health Center Is First Recipient of adjunctive screening system Newport Beach, CA - October 5, 2009 The Oral Cancer Foundation recently initiated a program of donating VELscope Oral Cancer Screening Systems to free clinics and others located in, and helping communities with, underserved populations. The first recipient of this program is the Native American Community Health Center, commonly known as Native Heath, in Phoenix, Arizona, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. According to Oral Cancer Foundation executive director Brian Hill, “Our intent is to identify free clinics and health service providers in areas that have a high concentration of people who are both at risk for oral cancer and without the financial means to pay for comprehensive oral exams.” The Foundation is also careful to ensure that any clinic receiving aid in the form of equipment and materials has at least one dentist on staff that is regularly present to see patients. Native Health’s Dental Director, Dr. Mahasin Hangalay, believes it would be hard to find an area with a greater need for regular oral cancer screenings. “The Native American community that we serve has the highest rate of tobacco usage of any major demographic group in the country,” she said, “as well as an extremely high poverty rate and very poor access to health care.” The doctor also noted that because of the reported link between oral cancer and the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, screenings at the clinic are not just provided to tobacco users, but [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-10-05T15:08:42-07:00October, 2009|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Osseointegration of dental implants after radiotherapy for oral cancer

Source: Fogorv Sz, February 1, 2009; 102(1): 7-11 Author: Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Fogorvos-tudományi Kar, Szájsebészeti Tanszék The goal of rehabilitation following radical surgery and radiotherapy for oral cancer is the restoration of oral functions and aesthetics. Osseointegrated implants improve prosthesis stability. Previous radiotherapy was originally considered a contraindication for implant placement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of dental implants following radiotherapy. Nine oral cancer patients who had undergone radical surgery and radiotherapy were selected. A total of 23 implants were inserted. Twenty-one implants (91.3%) have been functioning without discomfort or infection. This study shows that osseointegrated implants should be considered part of the treatment plan for the rehabilitation of oral cancer patients after radiotherapy.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-01T08:15:36-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

“French” kissing ups risk of oral HPV infection

Source: Reuters Health Author: staff Oral sex and open-mouthed "French" kissing increase the risk of acquiring oral infections of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a study shows. "Performing oral sex is not without risks," Dr. Maura L. Gillison told Reuters Health. It is associated with gonorrheal pharyngitis - a sexually transmitted infection of the tonsils and back of the throat that immediately causes symptoms, she noted, and now is associated with mouth HPV infections that are silent "yet may lead to oral cancer 10 to 20 years later." Gillison from The Ohio State University, Columbus, and colleagues explored whether sexual behaviors were associated with the odds of oral HPV infection in 332 adults and in 210 college-aged men. They found that 4.8 percent of the adults and 2.9 percent of college-aged men had oral HPV infection. Among adults, the odds of oral HPV infection were significantly elevated among current tobacco smokers and among individuals who reported having either more than 10 oral or more than 25 vaginal sex partners during their lifetime. Similar risk factors applied to the college-aged men. For them, having at least six recent oral sex or open-mouthed kissing partners were independently associated with increased odds of developing oral HPV infection. For the 28 percent of college-aged men who reported never having performed oral sex, having at least 10 lifetime or at least five recent open-mouthed kissing partners was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing oral HPV infection. "Our data suggest that oral HPV infections that [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-01T08:14:57-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

University of Toronto researchers create microchip that can detect type and severity of cancer

Source: www.newswire.ca Author: Press release U of T researchers have used nanomaterials to develop a microchip sensitive enough to quickly determine the type and severity of a patient's cancer so that the disease can be detected earlier for more effective treatment. Their groundbreaking work, reported Sept. 27 in Nature Nanotechnology heralds an era when sophisticated molecular diagnostics will become commonplace. "This remarkable innovation is an indication that the age of nanomedicine is dawning," says Professor David Naylor, president of the University of Toronto and a professor of medicine. "Thanks to the breadth of expertise here at U of T, cross-disciplinary collaborations of this nature make such landmark advances possible." The researchers' new device can easily sense the signature biomarkers that indicate the presence of cancer at the cellular level, even though these biomolecules - genes that indicate aggressive or benign forms of the disease and differentiate subtypes of the cancer - are generally present only at low levels in biological samples. Analysis can be completed in 30 minutes, a vast improvement over the existing diagnostic procedures that generally take days. "Today, it takes a room filled with computers to evaluate a clinically relevant sample of cancer biomarkers and the results aren't quickly available," says Shana Kelley, a professor in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Medicine, who was a lead investigator on the project and a co-author on the publication. "Our team was able to measure biomolecules on an electronic chip the size of your fingertip [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-01T08:14:17-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Assessing oral cancer early detection: clarifying dentists’ practices

Source: J Public Health Dent, September 17, 2009 Authors: Charles W Lehew, Joel B Epstein, Linda M Kaste, and Young-Ku Choi Abstract Objective: This study explores new methods for assessing in greater detail what dentists do when they perform oral cancer early detection examinations. It clarifies practice behaviors and opens opportunities to identify factors that facilitate thorough early detection examinations by clinicians and to assess the relative effectiveness of different examination procedures. Methods: A 38-item survey instrument was e-mailed to dentists in a western US, multistate dental practice group. Questionnaires were received by 241 dentists, and 102 responded. An Oral Cancer Knowledge scale (0 to 14) was generated from correct responses on oral cancer general knowledge. An Oral Cancer Examination Thoroughness scale was calculated from the two dimensions of reported usage and frequency of procedures in oral cancer examinations. Results: Nearly all responding dentists were in general practice (90%), with a median year of graduation from dental school of 1994. The Oral Cancer Knowledge scores ranged from 5 to 14 with a mean of 10.4. The mean Thoroughness of Examination score was 11.34 (range 0 to 20). The two scales were not statistically correlated (r = -0.015, P = 0.883). Statistically, recency of continuing education was significantly associated with knowledge (P = 0.0284) and appears to be marginally associated with thoroughness (P = 0.075). Conclusions: This study documents considerable variability in dentists' knowledge and thoroughness of examinations. The scales provide tools for future studies for improving understanding of early detection [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-01T08:13:38-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

The influence of patient education by the dental hygienist: acceptance of the fluorescence oral cancer exam

Source: J Dent Hyg, June 1, 2009; 83(3): 134-40 Author: M Paulis Purpose: Oral cancer frequently goes undetected in its early and most curable stages because no clinical signs or symptoms usually exist. This study assessed the effect patient education had on the patient's decision to accept or refuse a fluorescence oral cancer examination. Methods: Along with providing a routine clinical and white light oral cancer exam, a Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope (VELscope) was used to evaluate the patient's oral cavity. After gaining written consent, 100 patients at a university dental hygiene clinic were provided a survey that evaluated their risk factors, opinions, and knowledge regarding oral cancer. Upon assessing the patient's willingness to receive a free oral fluorescence examination, the survey questioned if being charged a fee for the exam would serve as a deterrent to receiving it. Regardless of acceptance or refusal of the exam, the patient was educated, first by a brochure, and then by discussion with the researcher, about oral cancer. Results: Overall, 92% of participants agreed to pay a fee for the VELscope exam. Of those who initially refused the VELscope exam, 78% agreed to the exam after being educated about oral cancer. Patients were very appreciative of both the education and technology offered to them. Conclusions: Dental professionals have a responsibility to educate their patients about oral cancer in order to enable them to make informed decisions about their oral and overall health. Additionally, patient education has a significant impact on patient acceptance of [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-10-01T08:09:40-07:00October, 2009|Oral Cancer News|