radiotherapy – Page 10 – Oral Cancer News

Age is not a limiting factor for brachytherapy for carcinoma of the node negative oral tongue in patients aged eighty or older

Source: 7thspace.com Author: Hideya Yamazaki et al Purpose: To examine the role of brachytherapy for aged patients 80 or more in the trend of rapidly increasing number. Methods: We examined the outcomes for elderly patients with node negative oral tongue cancer (T1-3N0M0) treated with brachytherapy. The 21 patients (2 T1, 14 T2, and 5 T3 cases) ranged in age from 80 to 89 years (median 81), and their cancer was pathologically confirmed. All patients underwent definitive radiation therapy, with low dose rate (LDR) Ra-226 brachytherapy (n=4; median 70Gy), with Ir-192 (n=12; 70Gy), with Au-198 (n=1) or with high dose rate (HDR) Ir-192 brachytherapy (n=4; 60 Gy). Eight patients also underwent external radiotherapy (median 30 Gy). The period of observation ranged from 13 months to 14 years (median 2.5 years). We selected 226 population matched younger counterpart from our medical chart. Results: Definitive radiation therapy was completed for all 21 patients (100%), and acute grade 2-3 mucositis related to the therapy was tolerable for patients with good performance status. Local control (initial complete response) was attained in 19 of 21 patients (90%). The 2-year and 5-year local control rates were both 91%, (100% for T1, 83% for T2 and 80% for T3 tumors after 2 years). The cause-specific survival rate was 83% and the regional control rate 84% at the 2-years follow-up. However, 12 patients died because of intercurrent diseases or senility, resulting in overall survival rates of 55% at 2 years and 34% at 5 years. Conclusion: Age is not [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-12-10T09:00:06-07:00December, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Implant survival rate after oral cancer therapy: A review.

Source: HighWire, Stanford University The overall impression regarding the success of dental implants (DI) in patients having undergone oral cancer therapy remains unclear. The aim of the present review study was to assess the implant survival rate after oral cancer therapy. Databases were explored from 1986 up to and including September 2010 using the following keywords in various combinations: "cancer", "chemotherapy", "dental implant", "oral", "osseointegration", "radiotherapy", "surgery" and "treatment". The eligibility criteria were: (1) original research articles; (2) clinical studies; (3) reference list of pertinent original and review studies; (4) intervention: patients having undergone radio- and chemotherapy following oral cancer surgery; and (5) articles published only in English. Twenty-one clinical studies were included. Results from 16 studies reported that DI can osseointegrate and remain functionally stable in patients having undergone radiotherapy following oral cancer surgery; whereas three studies showed irradiation to have negative effects on the survival of DI. Two studies reported that DI can osseointegrate and remain functionally stable in patients having undergone chemotherapy. It is concluded that DI can osseointegrate and remain functionally stable in patients having undergone oral cancer treatment.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-11-17T17:40:03-07:00November, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Superselective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel-nedaplatin for advanced oral cancer.

Source: PubMed.gov Cisplatin-based, superselective, intra-arterial chemotherapy concurrent with radiotherapy (SSIACRT) has gained wide acceptance as a common/curative treatment for advanced head and neck cancer. We combined nedaplatin (CDGP) with docetaxel (DOC) as a new combination in SSIACRT for advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma in 2003. Twenty-two patients with advanced oral cancer were treated by radiotherapy (66Gy) concurrent with superselective intra-arterial DOC (40mg/body) and CDGP (80mg/m(2)) infusion between 2003 and 2009. Complete response was achieved in 18 (81.8%) of the 22 patients. Of the 17 patients with positive neck disease, 16 (94%) were assessed as disease-free. The 5-year overall survival rate was 78.5%, and the major adverse effects were leukocytopenia and mucositis. Five patients (22.7%) developed distant metastases post-treatment. These results indicate that intra-arterial docetaxel-nedaplatin infusion concurrent with radiotherapy is efficacious for advanced oral cancer. The side effects are easily manageable, and the most important outcome of the treatment is the preservation of patients' quality of life (QOL) and improved prognosis.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-11-08T13:13:31-07:00November, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Diagnosis for Michael Douglas highlights oral cancer risk

Source: www.dental-tribune.com Author: Fred Michmershuizen, DTA After it became known recently that the Academy Award winning actor Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with oral cancer, dental professionals around the world seized on an opportunity to urge members of the public to pay more attention to key risk factors and early warning signs of the disease. The Academy Award winner was diagnosed with a tumor in his throat, and he now faces an eight-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This high-profile case has brought oral cancers into the limelight, and oral health experts are keen to make the public more aware of the key risk factors and early warning signs. The British Dental Health Foundation is calling for more attention to be paid to mouth cancers. The foundation is advising the public to regularly check their mouths. Douglas quit smoking in 2006, after a long “half a pack a day” habit. Yet, according to the foundation, the possibility of developing oral cancer remains higher for ex-smokers than non-smokers for 20 years after quitting. Tobacco is considered to be the main cause of mouth cancer, with three in four cases being linked to smoking, according to the foundation. Drinking in excess is also a known factor, with those who both smoke and drink to excess being up 30 times more likely to be at risk. “It is crucial the public know about the risk factors and early symptoms as early detection can save lives,” said Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-11-07T08:29:37-07:00November, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Hollywood star’s diagnosis highlights high risk of mouth cancer

Source: www.dentalhealth.org.uk Author: press release THE British Dental Health Foundation, which runs UK Mouth Cancer Action Month each November, is calling for more attention to be paid to mouth cancers reminding people that there is a death from mouth cancer on average every five hours in the UK. Oral health experts and the Foundation are advising the public to regularly check their mouths after news broke this week of actor Michael Douglas being diagnosed with oral cancer. The Academy Award winner has recently been diagnosed with a tumour in his throat, and now faces an eight–week cause of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This high profile case has brought oral cancers into the lime light, and oral health experts are keen to make the public more aware of the key risk factors and early warning signs. Douglas quit smoking in 2006, after a long ‘half a packet a day’ habit. Yet, the possibility of developing oral cancer remains higher for ex–smokers than non–smokers for 20 years after quitting. Tobacco is considered to be the main cause of mouth cancer, with three in four cases being linked to smoking. Drinking in excess is also a known factor, with those who both smoke and drink to excess being up 30 times more likely to be at risk. The Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said: “It is crucial the public know about the risk factors and early symptoms as early detection can save lives. Survival rates can increase from [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-19T19:03:52-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

HPV-positive oropharnygeal cancer has better prognosis than tobacco-induced cancer

Source: www.enttoday.org Author: Alice Goodma Mounting evidence suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer has an improved prognosis compared with HPV-negative disease. The most recent supportive evidence comes from an analysis of a Phase III trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Our study showed that HPV status is as strong a predictor of outcome as cancer stage for patients with oropharyngeal cancers, even after considering other factors such as age and smoking history, said lead author Maura Gillison, MD, PhD, Professor of Hematology and Oncology, Epidemiology, and Otolaryngology at Ohio State University in Columbus. Dr. Gillison said that tumor HPV status should now be part of the routine workup of patients with oropharyngeal cancers. Oropharyngeal cancers are mainly attributable to chronic tobacco use and smoking, or to HPV infection. Retrospective analyses, meta-analysis, and small trials have suggested that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is a distinct entity, and the present Phase III study provides the most compelling evidence, she said, because it is the largest study to date. It is not clear why HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer has a better prognosis. In the trial, HPV-positive patients were younger, mostly Caucasian, and had improved performance status and smaller tumors. Dr. Gillison said that these factors could have a positive influence on survival. Survival Benefit The retrospective correlative analysis of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0129, presented by Dr. Gillison, focused on outcome according to HPV status. The randomized study included 206 patients with cancers positive for [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-16T10:19:03-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Marginal misses after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Source: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, July 23, 2010 Author: AM Chen et al. Purpose: To describe the spatial distribution of local-regional recurrence (LRR) among patients treated postoperatively with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for head and neck cancer. Methods and materials: The medical records of 90 consecutive patients treated by gross total resection and postoperative IMRT for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck from January 2003 to July 2009 were reviewed. Sites of disease were the oral cavity (43 patients), oropharynx (20 patients), larynx (15 patients), and hypopharynx (12 patients). Fifty patients (56%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Results: Seventeen of 90 patients treated with postoperative IMRT experienced LRR, yielding a 2-year estimate of local regional control of 80%. Among the LRR patients, 11 patients were classified as in-field recurrences, occurring within the physician-designated clinical target volume, and 6 patients were categorized as marginal recurrences. There were no out-of-field geographical misses. Sites of marginal LRRs included the contralateral neck adjacent to the spared parotid gland (3 patients), the dermal/subcutaneous surface (2 patients), and the retropharyngeal/retrostyloid lymph node region (1 patient). Conclusions: Although the incidence of geographical misses was relatively low, the possibility of this phenomenon should be considered in the design of target volumes among patients treated by postoperative IMRT for head and neck cancer. Authors: AM Chen, DG Farwell, Q Luu, LM Chen, S Vijayakumar, and JA Purdy Authors' affiliaton: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-03T18:25:07-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Herpes virus used to treat cancer

Source: BBC News Author: Emma Wilkinson Doctors say they have used a genetically engineered herpes virus to treat successfully patients with head and neck cancer. A London hospital trial of 17 patients found that use of the virus alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy helped kill the tumours in most patients. It works by getting into cancer cells, killing them from the inside, and also boosting the patient's immune system. Further trials are planned for later in the year. Head and neck cancer, which includes cancer of the mouth, tongue and throat, affects up to 8,000 people every year in the UK. Study leader Dr Kevin Harrington, who is based at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said current treatments were effective if the cancer was picked up early but that many patients were not diagnosed until it was more advanced. The herpes virus, which is also being tested in patients with skin cancer, is genetically manipulated so that it grows inside tumour cells but cannot infect normal healthy cells. Once there it has a triple effect - it multiplies, killing tumour cells as it does so, it is engineered to produce a human protein that activates the immune system and it also makes a viral protein that acts as a red flag to immune cells. 'Potential weapon' In the 17 patients injected with the virus, in addition to their standard treatment, at the Royal Marsden Hospital, 93% showed no trace of cancer after their tumour had been surgically removed. More [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-08-03T15:24:00-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Herpes virus treats head and neck cancer patients

Source: www.healthcanal.com Author: staff A genetically engineered cold sore virus has been used to treat head and neck cancer patients in a Phase I/II clinical trial run by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. The herpes simplex virus, known as OncoVEX and owned by BioVex Inc, had been modified so it multiplies inside cancer cells but not healthy cells. It bursts and kills tumour cells and, by expressing a human protein, it also helps stimulate patients’ immune systems. The virus was injected into 17 patients’ cancer-affected lymph nodes in up to four doses, and the patients were also given radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Head and neck tumour shrinkage could be seen on scans for 14 patients (82.3%), while 93 per cent of patients had no trace of residual cancer in their lymph nodes during subsequent surgery to remove them. After an average follow-up time of 29 months (19 to 40 months), 82.4 per cent of patients had not succumbed to the disease. Only two of 13 patients given the virus treatment at a high dose relapsed. “Around 35 to 55 per cent of patients given the standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment typically relapse within two years, so these results compare very favourably,” Principal Investigator Dr Kevin Harrington from the ICR and The Royal Marsden says. “This was a small study so the results should be interpreted with caution; however the very high rates of tumour response have led to the decision to take this [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-07-31T06:55:58-07:00July, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Varian Medical Systems: Head & neck cancer patient in Switzerland becomes world’s first UNIQUE radiotherapy patient

Source: www.tradingmarkets.com Author: press release A 55-year-old female head & neck cancer patient has become the first person in the world to be treated clinically using a new, advanced radiotherapy delivery device from Varian Medical Systems. Clinicians in Switzerland carried out the treatment this week using a UNIQUE(tm) single energy medical linear accelerator to deliver fast and precise RapidArc(r) radiotherapy, the leading solution for arc-based treatments. The treatment took place at the Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana (IOSI) radiation oncology unit here in Bellinzona, a public comprehensive cancer center serving 330,000 inhabitants in southern Switzerland, and part of Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale at San Giovanni Hospital. Varian's new UNIQUE treatment unit, a cost effective single energy (6 MV) system with the ability to deliver advanced treatments such as RapidArc, has been introduced by Varian to help bring advanced cancer care to more patients. "The UNIQUE system is an important asset in the clinical portfolio of the center in order to offer the best level of cancer care to all patients in the region," says Dr. Michele Morisoli, Director of San Giovanni hospital. "UNIQUE is a very capable machine that will enable us to treat most of our patients with a very advanced technique," says Dr. Antonella Fogliata, head medical physicist at IOSI. "RapidArc offers our patients a high standard of treatment delivery and less time spent on the treatment couch, which helps to keep discomfort t to a minimum. On the technical side we are really pleased with the performance and [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-06-20T08:50:11-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|