radiation – Page 12 – Oral Cancer News

Low-dose IMRT may be safe for patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancer

Source: www.oncologypractice.com Author: Laura Nikolaides Lower-dose radiation therapy may be safe for some patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer, decreasing the risk of often long-term side effects, such as trouble swallowing, dry mouth, loss of taste, neck stiffness, and thyroid problems, investigators reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Two-year overall survival and progression-free survival were 93% and 80%, respectively, among 62 patients with operable stage III/IVA HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma who received lower-dose intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) after clinical complete response to induction chemotherapy, reported Dr. Anthony Cmelak, professor of radiation oncology at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., and medical director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Franklin. Overall, the phase II study enrolled 90 patients, median age 57 years, who all received induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab. The response to induction chemotherapy determined IMRT dose. The 62 patients who had a complete clinical response received a reduced dose (54 Gy) of IMRT, and the rest of the patients received standard dose IMRT (70 Gy). All patients received standard cetuximab along with radiation. Two-year overall survival and progression-free survival for the higher-risk patients who received the standard dose of IMRT were 87% and 65% respectively. Among those patients receiving low-dose IMRT, survival was slightly higher for those with less than 10 pack-years of smoking and earlier-stage disease; in those patients 2-year progression-free and overall survival were 92% and 97%, respectively. However, Dr. Cmelak does not yet recommend modifying regimens for patients with [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-06-03T05:55:31-07:00June, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Cannabinoids may offer hope for patients with oral cancer pain

Source: www.elements4health.com Even the strongest available pain medications are largely ineffective for many cancer patients, particularly those with oral cancers. One of the nation’s leading oral cancer treating clinicians, speaking at the American Pain Society’s annual meeting, said he believes that while prospects for major treatment advances remain bleak, a new cannabinoid-based medication may have some promise for providing meaningful pain relief. Brian Schmidt, DDS, MD, PhD, professor, New York University College of Dentistry and School of Medicine, delivered the Global Year Against Pain Lecture and reported that today, more than 100 years since President Ulysses S. Grant died from oral cancer, there is only modest improvement in patient survival. Grant is the only American president to die from cancer. “Oral cancer is one of the most painful and debilitating of all malignancies,” said Schmidt, “ and opioids, the strongest pain medications we have, are an imperfect solution. They become dramatically less effective as tolerance to these drugs develops.” Now considered to be the fastest increasing cancer in the United States, oral and oropharyngeal malignancies usually begin in the tongue. Human papillomavirus transmitted through oral sex, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are the leading causes of this increase in oropharyngeal cancer. In the United States, some 43,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year and the disease is more widespread worldwide with 640,000 new cases a year. Schmidt said oral cancer patients often undergo multiple surgeries as tumors recur and also are treated with radiation and chemotherapy. [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-05-15T08:40:08-07:00May, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Jim Kelly’s toughest game: Fighting oral cancer

Source: www.foxnews.com Author: Dr. Manny Alvarez Jim Kelly, the Hall of Fame quarterback who played for the Buffalo Bills until 1996, is one of the greatest football players that I have ever seen. During his football career, I followed him closely and was always in awe of his athletic abilities, his leadership qualities and his love of family. Unfortunately, Jim Kelly is currently battling a second recurrence of oral cancer and has been scheduled to undergo surgery in an attempt to control the disease. His wife, Jill, told the Associated Press that her 54-year-old husband’s cancer is aggressive and beginning to spread. I’ve been following Jim Kelly’s health struggles and have been thinking about him, praying that he gets better. It is easy to think of some humans as immortal – especially when you’re looking at an individual as physically fit as Jim Kelly. But we tend to forget that sometimes nature has a unique plan for all of us. However, Jim Kelly’s struggles can serve as a reminder for us all to be vigilant about our health. Jim Kelly is suffering from oral cancer, which doesn’t get the attention that it deserves, despite the fact that 42,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2014, according to the National Cancer Institute. Oral cancers are any cancers occurring in the oral cavity, which starts in your throat and extends all the way to your lips. The sad part about this disease is that oral cancers are typically not identified early, which [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-03-30T10:22:43-07:00March, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Beaumont Researchers: biomarkers predict effectiveness of radiation treatments for head and neck cancer

Source: www.healthcanal.com Author: staff An international team of researchers, led by Beaumont Health System’s Jan Akervall, M.D., Ph.D., looked at biomarkers to determine the effectiveness of radiation treatments for patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. They identified two markers that were good at predicting a patient’s resistance to radiation therapy. Their findings were published in the February issue of the European Journal of Cancer. Explains Dr. Akervall, co-director, Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, and clinical director of Beaumont’s BioBank, “Radiation therapy is a common treatment for people with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. However, it’s not always well-tolerated. It can take two months, resulting in lots of side effects. Some of these complications are permanent. Before my patient goes down that path, I really want to know if their tumors are going to respond to radiation. That’s where the patient’s biomarkers can shed some light. If not, we can look at other treatment options - saving time, possible risk for complications and expense.” A biomarker is a gene or a set of genes or its products, RNA and proteins, that researchers use to predict a key clinical issue such as diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment, choice of treatment or recurrence. Biomarker studies can provide a bridge between emerging molecular information and clinical treatment. Biomarkers may also lead to personalized treatment, in contrast to protocol-based medicine of today. “Personalized treatment decisions based on biomarkers go beyond traditional cancer [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-03-30T10:18:00-07:00March, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Humidifying mouth, throat during radiotherapy cuts mucositis

Source: www.drbicuspid.com Author: staff Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who received daily humidification of the mouth and throat during radiation therapy treatment spent nearly 50% fewer days hospitalized to manage their side effects, such as mucositis, according to research presented at the recent Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium in Scottsdale, AZ. Mucositis, inflammation and ulceration of the mouth and throat, is a painful side effect of radiation therapy that can negatively affect patients' quality of life. Using humidification is based on the fact that moisturizing wounds generally helps them heal faster, according to the researchers. The study by the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) evaluated 210 HNC patients in New Zealand and Australia from June 2007 to June 2011. Patients in the phase III trial were randomized to institutional standard of care (control group) or humidification. The humidified air was delivered through the nose via a plastic interface (mask-type apparatus) that can be worn by patients while sleeping or sitting. Patients began humidification on the first day of radiation therapy and continued until the ulceration in their mouth and throat had resolved. On average, humidification patients spent 57% as many days in the hospital to manage side effects, compared with the controls (control = 4.1 days, humidification = 2.3 days). The humidifier group also resumed close-to-normal eating patterns at significantly higher rates three months after radiotherapy. Only 43 patients (42%) of the patients in the humidification group met the defined benchmark of humidification compliance and were able [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-03-23T13:26:37-07:00March, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Recurrent mouth and throat cancers less deadly when caused by HPV

Source: www.oncologynurseadvisor.com Author: Kathy Boltz, PhD People with late-stage cancer at the back of the mouth or throat that recurs after chemotherapy and radiation treatment are twice as likely to be alive 2 years later if their cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), suggests new research. This study was presented at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Previous studies have found that people with so-called HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers are more likely to survive than those whose cancers are related to smoking or whose origins are unknown. The new study shows that the longer survival pattern holds even if the cancer returns. Oropharyngeal cancers, which once were linked primarily to heavy smoking, are now more likely to be caused by HPV, a virus that is transmitted by oral and other kinds of sex. The rise in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers has been attributed to changes in sexual behaviors, most notably an increase in oral sex partners. For the study, the researchers used data provided by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group on 181 patients with late-stage oropharyngeal cancer whose HPV status was known and whose cancer had spread after primary treatment. There were 105 HPV-positive participants and 76 HPV-negative ones. Although the median time to recurrence was roughly the same (8.2 months vs 7.3 months, respectively), some 54.6% of those with HPV-positive cancer were alive 2 years after recurrence, whereas only 27.6% of those with HPV-negative cancers were still alive at that point in time. [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-03-19T07:11:24-07:00March, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Throat cancer survivor celebrates life after trans-oral robotic surgery

Source: www.newswise.com Author: staff When Charlie Guinn sits down to eat with his lovely wife of 39 years, he thoroughly enjoys each bite. It’s not just the food; the entire experience is a celebration. Just over a year ago, Mr. Guinn learned that he had stage IV throat cancer. For him, just surviving would have been an accomplishment — so swallowing again at a meal with a loved one is truly something special. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013 over 41,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx and almost 8,000 died from the disease. But Mr. Guinn would be the first to say that he is one of the lucky ones. He is one of the first patients to undergo trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) at the University of New Mexico Hospital. And the results have been stunning. Mr. Guinn first discovered the lump in his throat while shaving. When it was still there a week later, he went to an urgent care center where he was immediately referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat physician. The physician ran a number of tests including a biopsy. When the results came back, the physician referred Mr. Guinn to Nathan Boyd, MD, at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center. It had been only a week and a half from that fateful visit to urgent care. Mr. Guinn recalls, “When I first got there to see Dr. Boyd, one of the nurses told [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-03-07T07:25:15-07:00March, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Improving QOL in head and neck cancer as survival improves

Source: www.medscape.com Author: Zosia Chustecka In patients undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, reducing the radiation to organs not affected by cancer is key to improving quality of life post-treatment. Several studies presented here at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium described new approaches to sparing radiation delivered to the salivary glands and to the voice box, without any loss of cancer control, but with a reported reduction in adverse effects, such as xerostomia (dry mouth), and an anticipated reduction in loss of voice and speech quality. Improvements in such outcomes are becoming increasingly important as the epidemiology of head and neck cancer is changing, and the increase in human papillomavirus-positive disease means that patients are being diagnosed their 50s and will, in many cases, go on to live for decades after their definitive cancer treatment, researchers commented at a press briefing. Xerostomia can make it difficult to speak, as well as chew and swallow, and can lead to dental problems. "Dry mouth might seem trivial, but it actually has a significant effect on quality of life," commented Tyler Robin, PhD, an MD candidate in his final year at the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver. To reduce this adverse effect, intensity-modulated radiation techniques are already directing the beam away from the parotid gland, which is responsible for stimulated saliva production, for example during eating. But for the rest of the time, saliva is produced unstimulated from the submandibular gland. "This gland actually produces the [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2014-02-28T14:23:04-07:00February, 2014|Oral Cancer News|

Surgery beats chemotherapy for tongue cancer, U-M study finds

Source: www.eurekalert.org Author: press release Patients with tongue cancer who started their treatment with a course of chemotherapy fared significantly worse than patients who received surgery first, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. This is contrary to protocols for larynx cancer, in which a single dose of chemotherapy helps determine which patients fare better with chemotherapy and radiation and which patients should elect for surgery. In larynx cancer, this approach, which was pioneered and extensively researched at U-M, has led to better patient survival and functional outcomes. But this new study, which appears in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, describes a clear failure. "To a young person with tongue cancer, chemotherapy may sound like a better option than surgery with extensive reconstruction. But patients with oral cavity cancer can't tolerate induction chemotherapy as well as they can handle surgery with follow-up radiation. Our techniques of reconstruction are advanced and offer patients better survival and functional outcomes," says study author Douglas Chepeha, M.D., MSPH, professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School. The study enrolled 19 people with advanced oral cavity cancer. Patients received an initial dose of chemotherapy, called induction chemotherapy. Those whose cancer shrunk by half went on to receive additional chemotherapy combined with radiation treatment. Those whose cancer did not respond well had surgery followed by radiation. Enrollment in the trial was stopped early because results were so poor. Ten of [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-12-30T06:42:46-07:00December, 2013|Oral Cancer News|

Head and neck cancer patients improves with hyperfractioned radiotherapy

Source: health-beauty-2468.blogspot.com Author: Kris Borowczyk Compared with the standard radiation therapy, intensified form of radiotherapy proves to be more effective in improving the survival chances of people with head and neck cancer. This is the result of studies conducted by the ECC2013 or European Cancer Congress 2013. About 11,000 patients were subject to altered fractionation radiotherapy and fractionation radiotherapy. The AFRT group showed an 8% reduction in risks for death while the other group showed nine percent in decrease. Radiation oncologist Dr. Pirre Blanchard plans to tell the congress that despite the fact that CRT or concomitant chemo radiation and chemotherapy in general is considered the standard treatment for cancer, AFRT should still be considered if patients want more intensified intervention. He said, “The CRT is not feasible because of other pre-existing conditions such as cardiac and renal diseases.” AFRT is a radiotherapy treatment intensified to be given in different schedules. It is associated with some acute side effects but not those late side effects caused by SFRT.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2013-12-09T14:43:55-07:00December, 2013|Oral Cancer News|