10/8/2007 Memphis, TN staff CancerConsultants.com Researchers affiliated with the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group DAHANCA 10 study have reported that patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation therapy and prophylactic Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) to maintain high hemoglobin levels had a lower disease-free survival than patients receiving placebo. The details of this study were presented at the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO) in September, 2007.[1] Aranesp is an effective agent for increasing hemoglobin levels in patients receiving chemotherapy and decreasing the need for blood transfusions. However, there has been some concern that erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa) are associated with increased thromboembolic events and in recurrent malignancies. Recently, researchers affiliated with six randomized controlled trials of Aranesp versus placebo for treatment of chemotherapy induced anemia (CIA) in patients with non-myeloid malignancies have reported that Aranesp decreases transfusion requirements and improves hemoglobin responses without an adverse effect on disease progression or survival. In most studies of Aranesp, the goal has been to increase the hemoglobin level to 11-13 g/dL to prevent blood transfusions. The purpose of the current study was to determine if allowing more oxygen to squamous cell carcinoma would increase radio sensitivity resulting in better tumor control. Patients in this study had hemoglobin levels maintained between 14 and 15.5 g/dL. In addition, they received the hypoxic radio sensitizer Nimorazole. In total, 522 patients were randomly allocated to receive Aranesp beginning a week before radiotherapy or placebo and 515 were evaluable. More than 91% of Aranesp treated [...]

10/8/2007 Bradford, England Claire Lomax www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk A young mother is battling back from mouth cancer thanks to the medicinal magic of blood-sucking leeches. Michelle Fuller, 32, had to endure the slimy creatures placed on her tongue four times a day for a week and a half to boost circulation to her reconstructed tongue following surgery to remove a cancerous tumour, which if left untreated would have proved fatal. Despite the yuk' factor it has proved successful and Michelle - one of youngest patients to be treated for mouth cancer - is now on the road to recovery. "I have never been squeamish and I just said you have to do what you have to do'," said Michelle. Michelle, who lives in Clayton with her partner Mall, 31, and seven-year-old daughter Morgan, sought advice earlier this year after feeling discomfort in her tongue. She didn't have a dentist but when it got to the point where she could no longer eat because of pain in her tongue, she called NHS Direct for advice. An appointment was made with an orthodontist at St Luke's Hospital and an MRI scan and a biopsy were carried out. On April 16 she was told she had mouth cancer, a disease which is most commonly seen in people over the age of 60, smokers and heavy drinkers - none of which apply to Michelle. Michelle's parents Peter and Eileen Fuller, of Bingley, believe a tongue piercing their daughter had 11 years ago could be to blame, [...]

10/7/2007 Athens, GA staff ScienceDaily.com A 1998 settlement designed to limit the marketing of smokeless tobacco to U.S. youth hasn't been effective, a University of Georgia study found. The findings, published in the early online edition of the American Journal of Public Health, found that smokeless tobacco ads in magazines increased in the first year after the agreement went into effect, reaching 83 percent of adolescents. However, exposure dipped to 57 percent in 2000, but rates steadily increased in later years. The Master Settlement Agreement in 1998 agreed to by 46 attorneys general and the major cigarette producers called for restrictions in: billboard advertising, cartoons in tobacco advertising and marketing toward youth. The same year, a similar agreement known as the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, was signed by the attorneys general and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company. "Exposure rates are significant and have been very stable over the past 10 years," study co-author Dean Krugman of the University of Gerogia, in Athens, said in a statement. The researchers said that in 1993 smokeless tobacco advertising in magazines reached 66 percent of youth ages 12 to 17.

10/7/2007 Los Angeles, CA staff TradingMarkets.com The cancer that killed Steven Moore, chairman and chief executive of OGE Energy Corp., is rare. Moore succumbed to parotid cancer -- a cancer of the salivary glands -- after an eight-year battle. Salivary gland cancers encompass more than 10 types of tumors, some of which are fast-growing and some of which may never threaten a person's life. Moore's cancer was in his parotid glands, the largest of the salivary glands. The parotid glands are found in the cheeks on both sides of the face, just in front of the ears. Most salivary gland tumors originate in the parotid glands, according to the American Cancer Society. "Most of these tumors have poor survival, and one of the reasons is probably the fact that we don't know enough about them," said Dr. Lurdes Queimado, an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and holder of the Presbyterian Health Foundation chair in otorhinolaryngology. Queimado is an ear, nose and throat doctor. The National Cancer Institute estimates there are about three cases of salivary gland cancer per 100,000 people. The cases represent 3 to 5 percent of all head and neck cancers. Treatment challenging Queimado said cancer could sprout most anywhere. "On the one end, they (salivary gland cancers) are rare," she said. "On the other end, the histology is very variable," she said of the tumors' appearances, which makes diagnosis and treatment challenging. Salivary gland tumors typically are benign. Some benign tumors become [...]

10/7/2007 web-based article staff Cancer Treatment Research Website (avemar.world-cancer.net) The aim of this study was to determine if radiotherapy induces hyposalivation altering oral microbial flora. The purpose of this placebo-controlled, single-blind study was to determine beneficial effects of a saliva substitute and an oral hygiene product on irradiated patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Eighteen patients were assigned to the test group (Biotène Oral Balance gel [Lacléde Incorporated Healthcare Products, Gardena, CA] and toothpaste used daily), and another 18 were put on a conventional daily regimen (carboxymethylcellulose gel and Oral-B toothpaste [Laclede Pharmaceuticals, Gardena, CA]). Cultures for identifying and quantitating microorganisms, whole unstimulated saliva, and visual analog measurements for comfort were obtained before mucositis occurred and after treatment. Daily use of Biotène products enhanced control of microbial flora, improved salivary flow, and increased oral comfort as compared with control subjects. Four weeks after mucositis, some aerobic isolates disappeared in the test group; periodontal-associated bacteria were markedly decreased in the test group; and candidal species were significantly lowered in the test group. Although baseline saliva was lower in the test group (P = 0.001), after 4 weeks, no difference between groups existed; comfort was greater in the test group (P = 0.007). Use of enzyme-engineered Biotène products that assist in control of the oral microbial flora as well as supporting oral comfort through lubrication appear to be useful aids for irradiated patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Source: From the *Faculty of Dentistry, the Clinical Microbiological Diagnostic Institute, and the ‡Department of Oncotherapy, University of [...]

10/4/2007 web-based article Björn Stenström, Chun-Mei Zhao et al. Oxford Journals Carcinogenesis (carcin.oxfordjournals.org) The Swedish variant of moist oral smokeless tobacco (snus) is popular in Sweden and Norway, banned from sale within the European Union and is currently being introduced in USA. The aim of the present study was to determine if snus is carcinogenic to the stomach, particularly in Helicobacter pylori (H.P.)-infected hosts at increased risk for gastric cancer development. Snus (GeneralTM; Swedish Match, Sweden) was mixed with powdered standard mouse chow at a concentration of 5–9% (wt/wt) and given to wild-type (WT, FVB) and gastrin transgenic (INS-GAS, FVB) mice for 6 months with or without H.P. (strain 67:21, CagA+, VacA+) infection. At necropsy, pathological evaluation of stomachs from uninfected snus-treated WT mice showed mild morphological changes, whereas 50% snus-treated INS-GAS mice developed carcinoma in situ (CIS), compared with 25% not exposed to snus. When snus was given to H.P.-infected mice, 9 of 17 WT mice developed CIS with intramucosal invasion, and the remaining 8 of 17 WT mice developed high-grade dysplasia (score >1.5) that was associated with increased gastritis, epithelial defects, oxyntic atrophy, hyperplasia and intestinal metaplasia. Twelve of 12 H.P.-infected INS-GAS mice developed CIS with intramucosal invasion and submucosal herniation. We suggest that snus is a potential gastric carcinogen in mice. The development of CIS was associated with increased rates of the epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, common features of gastric carcinogenesis. Authors: Björn Stenström1, Chun-Mei Zhao1, Arlin B. Rogers2, Hans-Olof Nilsson3, Erik Sturegård3,4, Steinar Lundgren1,5, James [...]

10/4/2007 Coventry, England Steve Evans icCoventry.co.uk A Nuneaton dentist faces being struck off the dental register after missing a patient's mouth cancer. Lutz Reinhardt, who lives in Haunchwood Road, Stockingford, had seven appointments with the patient over an 18-month period. But, it is claimed, he ignored her fears about a growing red sore under her tongue. The 54-year-old woman, known as Patient A, needed two operations and had part of her tongue removed after she was seen by another dentist who referred her for urgent hospital treatment. Mr Reinhardt, who was practising at the Camp Hill Dental Practice in Camp Hill Road, Nuneaton, is appearing before the General Dental Council in London, where he admits failing to diagnose the lesion or advising the patient it could be malignant.

10/4/2007 Sao Paolo, Brazil LP Kowalski and A Sanabria Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital, June 1, 2007; 27(3): 113-7 More than 50% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity have lymph node metastases and histological confirmation of metastatic disease is the most important prognostic factor. Among patients with a clinically negative neck, the incidence of occult metastases varies with the site, size and thickness of the primary tumour. The high incidence rate of occult cervical metastases (> 20%) in tumours of the lower part of the oral cavity is the main argument in favour of elective treatment of the neck. The usual treatment of patients with clinically palpable metastatic lymph nodes has been radical neck dissection. This classical surgical procedure involves not only resection of level I to V lymph nodes of the neck but also the tail of the parotid, submandibular gland, sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein and spinal accessory nerve. It is a safe oncological surgical procedure that significantly reduces the risk of regional recurrences, however it produces significant post-operative morbidity, mainly shoulder dysfunction. Aiming to reduce morbidity, Ward and Roben described a modification of the procedure sparing the spinal accessory nerve to prevent post-operative shoulder morbidity. Several clinical and pathological studies have demonstrated that the pattern of metastatic lymph node metastases occurs in a predictable fashion in patients with oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma. The use of selective supraomohyoid neck dissection as the elective treatment of the neck, in oral cancer patients, is now well established. However, [...]

10/3/2007 Stockholm, Sweden Mark Landler , Andrew Martin New York Times (nytimes.com) Cooling his heels outside a popular nightclub here recently, Jesper Froberg stubbed out his cigarette and reached for a less harmful pleasure: smokeless tobacco, neatly packed in tiny pouches that look like miniature used tea bags. “I’m really concerned about my health,” said Mr. Froberg, a maître d’hôtel, who tries to limit his smoking. “This stuff is safer than cigarettes, it’s discreet, and it’s really good.” Now this form of tobacco is coming to America, in the midst of an intensifying debate over how to define “reduced risk” tobacco products and how to market them. On Wednesday, a House committee is scheduled to hold hearings on whether the Food and Drug Administration should be given the power to regulate tobacco. Snus (rhymes with loose) is a moist ground tobacco that a user tucks between the cheek and the gum. Unlike chewing tobacco and moist smokeless tobacco — commonly known as dip — snus requires no spitting. Thanks partly to its popularity here, Sweden has the lowest smoking rates in Europe. It also has fewer incidences than its neighbors of smoking-related diseases, including lung and oral cancer. Snus is not without its dangers. It contains nicotine, which speeds the metabolism, and is as addictive as cigarettes. It has also been linked in a recent clinical trial to pancreatic cancer, though, unlike cigarettes, not to lung or mouth cancers. With the Sweden experience as a blueprint, the American tobacco industry [...]

10/2/2007 web-based article staff DrugResearcher.com GlaxoSmithKline has taken a step closer to a true targeted cancer therapy, and its vaccine, which 'educates' the immune system to kill tumour cells, has showed 'impressive' results in its latest clinical trials. The final results of the vaccine's Phase II trial were presented this week at the European Congress of Clinical Oncology (ECCO) in Barcelona, and it proves successful in Phase III, it will become the world's first antigen-specific cancer immunotherapeutic (ASCI). Over recent years, cancer drug development has increasingly focussed on targeted therapies - where the drug targets cancer cells in preference to normal cells. This concept is far more preferable to traditional chemotherapy, where the drugs show no preference between normal and tumour cells. However, even with targeted therapy, the 'marker' displayed by the cancer cells is also on normal cells, albeit to a lesser extent, and so some normal cells are also destroyed. The holy grail of targeted cancer drugs would be to find a marker that is only expressed on tumour cells and GSK has now taken one step closer to that dream. According to Dr Vincent Brichard, head of the cancer immunotherapeutics programme at GSK Biologicals, the MAGE-A3 antigen is not expressed at all in normal cells, except in testicular cells, but without the antigen presenting capabilities. The vaccine is based on this tumour antigen being presented to the immune system as a recombinant protein, which is designed to educate the immune system to mobilise antibodies and T-cells that [...]