Oral Cancer News – Page 292 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

Use of Erbitux in head and neck cancer rejected by NICE

Source: Pharmafocus.com Author: Staff Erbitux has failed to win NICE approval for the treatment of head and neck cancer, due to doubts over its cost and clinical effectiveness compared to existing treatments. It was rejected under NICE's new scheme to make more end-of-life drugs available by extending the threshold at which they are considered cost-effective, making it an extra heavy blow for manufacturer Merck Serono. Chief executive Andrew Dillon defended NICE's decision, saying the alternative of approving the medicine for the health service was unviable. He added: "This would mean the NHS making significant funds available for a very expensive treatment which may or may not benefit individual patients. Those funds would not then be available for treating other conditions with greater and more certain benefits for other patients." Erbitux is a monoclonal antibody and one of a new class of cancer drugs which target genetic mutations that allow cancer cells to multiply, and are designed to bypass many of the unpleasant side-effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. Licensed also in colorectal cancer, in 2008 the drug made global sales of nearly $1.6 million in 2008, and is expected to reach sales of $3.4 million by 2014. In the latest appraisal, Erbitux was rejected as a treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck and NICE recommended against its use in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with this cancer. The appraisal committee were uncertain over the clinical effectiveness of the drug and the cost of [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-25T16:43:53-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

NYC may require tobacco retailers to post warning signs

Source: NEWSDAY.COM Author: MICHAEL FRAZIER The New York Health Department is proposing city tobacco retailers post signs with graphic images such as cancer-ravaged throats and black lungs in an effort to discourage smoking, health officials said Wednesday.The signs - the first of their kind in the country - would include health risk warnings and information on how to quit, said Sarah Perl, assistant commissioner of the city's Bureau of Tobacco Control."You're going to see what a blackened lung looks like; you're going to see what mouth cancer looks like; you're going to see what it looks like when you have throat cancer," Perl said. "They're going to have to think, 'Do I really want to pay 10 bucks for mouth cancer?' "The city Board of Health will hold hearings and vote in September on the proposal. Officials expect opposition from many of the city's 12,000 tobacco retailers and the cigarette industry. Jim Calvin, president of the state Association of Convenience Stores, said a new law giving the Food and Drug Administration more tobacco control is sufficient. "I'm not sure we would be eager to give up additional wall space and advertising space for posters and signs and images," said Calvin, whose group represents 7,700 stores statewide. President Barack Obama signed a law Monday allowing the FDA to lower the amount of nicotine in tobacco products; forbid ads geared toward children; ban sweetened cigarettes that appeal to youngsters; and prohibit "light" and "low tar" labeling. The Health Department said its proposal is aimed mainly [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-25T10:49:05-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Philip Morris expects FDA regulation will be a perk

Source: Richmond Times Author: David Ress Jun 23, 2009 (Richmond Times-Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- One of the real tests of how federal regulation will affect tobacco use could be something you'll spot at a convenience store counter. A new law signed by President Barack Obama yesterday will, among many changes, move all tobacco products -- snuff and cigars as well as cigarettes -- behind the counter. How they share space back there could clear the way for more competition in a market now dominated by Henrico County-based Altria Group Inc. It's competition that Chesterfield County-based Swedish Match North America is hoping for, and a rule it believes could lead to something it's long wanted: more space on retailer's shelves for its snuff and chewing tobacco. "It's back to old fashioned blocking and tackling, how to be more competitive -- including against cigarettes," said Gerry Roerty, Swedish Match's president and general counsel. Both Richmond-area tobacco companies broke with most of the rest of the tobacco industry in supporting the regulation of tobacco by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "We have consistently advocated for federal regulation that recognizes the serious harm caused by tobacco products," said Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman and chief executive of Altria, parent of Philip Morris USA, the largest cigarette-maker. But critics say Altria's nearly decade-old support of regulation is a way to lock in its dominant share of the U.S. market -- both for cigarettes and now oral tobacco, after buying the nation's No.1 smokeless tobacco-maker this [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-23T12:25:44-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Council on Scientific Affairs issues statement

Source: ADA Author: Jennifer Garvin Growing evidence linking oral infection with human papillomavirus as a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer prompted the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs to approve a new statement on the topic at its April meeting. The statement aims to promote awareness of the rising incidence of HPV-associated cancers, particularly in the region of the oropharynx (the middle region of the throat, including the tonsils and base of the tongue). Although the primary risk factors for oral cavity cancer remain tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption, HPV infection is now associated with more than 7,300 cases of oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed annually in the United States. Surveillance data has shown a steady increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers over the past three decades, particularly in white men between 40 to 59 years of age. "Oral HPV infection is now commonly accepted as an important risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma," said Dr. Mark Lingen, an oral pathologist and council member. "Over the last two decades, the paradigm of the traditional oral cancer patient has been redefined, and dentists should be aware of this new etiology when providing routine oral soft tissue examinations to patients." The council statement emphasizes that oral HPV infection has emerged as a significant risk factor for oropharyngeal cancers for both men and women, even in the absence of smoking and alcohol consumption. New evidence indicates that the association with oropharyngeal cancer is three times higher for men than women, and a higher [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-22T16:40:27-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

New Information on Perinatal transmission of human papilomavirus DNA

Source: Virology Journal 2009, 6:83 Author: Staff Members The purpose was to study the perinatal transmission of human papillomavirus DNA (HPV-DNA) in 63 mother-newborn pairs, besides looking at the epidemiological factors involved in the viral DNA transmission. The following sampling methods were used: (1) in the pregnant woman, when was recruited, in cervix and clinical lesions of the vagina, vulva and perineal region; (2) in the newborn, (a) buccal, axillary and inguinal regions; (b) nasopharyngeal aspirate, and (c) cord blood; (3) in the children, buccal was repeated in the 4th week and 6th and 12th month of life. HPV-DNA was identified using two methodologies: multiplex PCR (PGMY09 and MY11 primers) and nested-PCR (genotypes 6/11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 42, 52 and 58). Perinatal transmission was considered when concordance was found in type-specific HPV between mother/newborn or mother/child. HPV-DNA genital was detected in 49 pregnant women submitted to delivery. Eleven newborns (22.4%, n=11/49) were HPV-DNA positive. In 8 cases (16.3%, n=8/49) there was type specific HPV concordance between mother/newborn samples. At the end of the first month of life three children (6.1%, n=3/49) became HPV-DNA positive, while two remained positive from birth. In 3 cases (100%, n=3/3) there was type specific HPV concordance between mother/newborn samples. In the 6th month, a child (2%, n=1/49) had become HPV-DNA positive between the 1st and 6th month of life, and there was type specific HPV concordance of mother/newborn samples. All the HPV-DNA positive children (22.4%, n=11/49) at birth and at the end first month of [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-22T15:06:37-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

University benefits the environment and the Oral Cancer Foundation

Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation Author: John Pohl Re-Cell-a-Thon Raises Funds by Recycling Cellphones At one of America’s most scenic and historic universities, a conscientious and industrious group of students, faculty and administrators recently formed a Greening Committee dedicated to raising awareness of the many things that can and must be done to protect the environment. So where is this university located: Vermont? Colorado? Oregon? Not quite; actually, the location is New York City. The Greening Committee is a collaborative effort between New York University’s College of Dentistry and College of Nursing. Formed in the fall of 2007, the roughly 20 committee members decided that they would show their support for Earth Day 2009 by organizing a 4-week-long Re-Cell-a-Thon to recycle cell phones. Not only that, they decided that the funds raised would be donated to the Oral Cancer Foundation. According to Theresa Rinaldi, who chaired the Re-Cell-a-Thon’s Public Relations sub-committee, “We knew that NYU has a wonderful relationship with Brian Hill and the Oral Cancer Foundation, and we couldn’t think of a better organization to donate our proceeds to.” According to Ms. Rinaldi, who is Alumni Outreach Administrator at the College of Dentistry, over 170 phones were collected at seven locations within the two colleges. The Greening Committee partnered with CollectiveGood, a non-profit organization that recycles donated cellphones and PDAs back into reuse. According to CollectiveGood, there are more than 1 billion used mobile phones in the US sitting on shelves or in landfills, and another 125 million will [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-25T18:18:42-07:00June, 2009|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

State rules marijuana smoke is a carcinogen, may require dispensaries to post warnings

Source: www.mercurynews.com Author: April Dembosky Joints and baggies sold at California's medical marijuana dispensaries will soon carry a new warning label. Next to tags like "Purple Haze" and "White Widow" will be the advisory: Contents may cause cancer when smoked. On Friday, California added marijuana smoke to its official list of known carcinogens, joining the ranks of arsenic, asbestos and DDT. Pot brownies, lollipops and other non-inhalables are not affected by the new ruling. Scientists found the pungent smoke shares many of the same harmful properties as tobacco smoke, warranting its inclusion on the Proposition 65 warning list. The law requires the state to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, and businesses and government agencies must post warnings when they use such chemicals or sell products containing them. "Marijuana smoke is a mixture of different chemicals, and a number of those were already on the Prop. 65 list," said Allan Hirsch, chief deputy director of the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which made the designation. From a health perspective, pot advocates say the ruling was unsurprising, given the state's track record on documenting the harmful effects of all kinds of smoke inhalation. However, some are worried by its political implications as advocates attempt to legalize recreational use of marijuana. "I definitely have concerns about law enforcement and politicians who aren't in favor of medical marijuana or law reform, who would use this designation to further restrict access," said Allen St. Pierre, executive [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-21T06:05:56-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

New radiotherapy technique proven safe, less toxic for cancer patients, University Of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute study finds

Source: Medicalnewstoday.com Author: Staff A new technique known as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is safe for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers and may improve their quality of life, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). Results of the phase I study were reported today in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Each year approximately 500,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are diagnosed worldwide. While treatment has improved with advances in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, more than half of patients will die from recurrent disease. Treatment options for patients with recurrent disease are limited, and for many, surgery may not be an option, according to principal investigator Dwight E. Heron, M.D., director, Radiation Oncology Services, UPMC Cancer Centers. "Chemotherapy alone can provide this patient population some palliation and pain relief, but it doesn't prolong survival," said Dr. Heron. "A few patients may be able to receive additional radiation treatments, but head and neck cancers, by their very nature, develop in very delicate areas of the body, which provide significant retreatment challenges." SBRT may offer these patients an alternative, noted Dr. Heron. "At the completion of our study, we found this treatment was tolerated very well. No maximum tolerated dose was reached, and no toxicities occurred that caused us to limit the dosing." SBRT is a relatively new technique using CyberKnife® technology, which delivers high doses of radiation with more precision than conventional techniques. The vast majority of patients complete [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-21T06:01:15-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Early detection is the key

Source: Newstime.com Author: Sandra Diamond Fox Standing before nearly 500 graduates of New York University's School of Dentistry at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan last month, two-time Emmy Award nominee Colleen Zenk Pinter stepped forward to accept the Dr. Harry Strusser Memorial Award for public service. While Pinter, 56, was accustomed to being on stage -- for more than 30 years she played the character of Barbara Ryan on CBS' "As The World Turns" -- speaking at NYU's graduation held very special meaning for her. She was being honored for her work in bringing awareness to oral cancer. Little more than two years ago, the Redding resident for 23 years and mother of six received the news that would change her life -- she was diagnosed with stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma of the ventral tongue. Oral cancer. Pinter's nightmare began in 2005 when she noticed a change in her speech. After an examination, her dentist said it was the result of her teeth shifting, which can sometimes occur after age 50. The following summer, when she developed a painful cold sore under her tongue, an oral surgeon eventually diagnosed it as a bacterial and fungal infection. Once the infection was treated, however, a tumor was discovered underneath it. Pinter started researching oral cancer. "I was in shock," she said. "I didn't fit the profile of people who had this type of cancer." Up until recently, oral cancer was often referred to as "the old man's cancer," and was mostly contracted by [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-19T09:56:13-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Factors associated with early-stage diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancer

Source: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, June 4, 2009 Authors: Jennifer M Watson et al. Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and treatment-seeking behaviors of patients diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) and to determine whether seeing an oral healthcare provider in the preceding year was associated with an earlier stage of diagnosis. Methods: Trained interviewers administered a pretested survey instrument to a sample of 131 patients newly diagnosed with OPC at two cancer centers in Florida. Analyses were conducted to compare characteristics of patients by cancer summary stage (early or advanced) on receipt of OPC examination, patterns of dental care, and number of initial signs and symptoms. In addition, analyses were also conducted for characteristics of patients' dental care utilization (regular primary care dentist, time of most recent dental visit, and regular dental care) by receipt of OPC examination. Results: Overall, 25.3% of participants reported receiving an OPC examination at their last dental visit and participants who received an OPC examination were significantly more likely (79%) to be diagnosed at early stages than those who did not receive an oral cancer examination (48%). Patients with a regular primary care dentist were more likely to be diagnosed at early stages (65%) than those without a regular primary care dentist (41%). Factors significantly associated with receiving an OPC examination included having a regular primary care dentist (P

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-19T07:37:59-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|