India is experiencing a rising trend of head and neck cancers, particularly oral cancer, among young people in their 20s and 30s, driven by lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, alcohol, poor oral hygiene, HPV infection, and stress. Early detection and preventive measures like awareness, screening, and regulation of carcinogenic products are crucial to combat this preventable health crisis.
A new blood test called HPV-DeepSeek can detect HPV-related head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms appear, potentially enabling earlier treatment and better outcomes.
Research suggests that moderate daily consumption of tea and coffee may reduce the risk of head and neck cancers, possibly due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, though excessive tea intake might increase certain risks. The study highlights the potential health benefits of these beverages, emphasizing moderation and the importance of overall healthy lifestyle choices.
A new blood test called HPV-DeepSeek can detect HPV-associated head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms appear, potentially enabling earlier treatment and better outcomes.
Head and neck cancers are increasingly affecting non-smokers due to factors like HPV infection, pollution, poor oral hygiene, and environmental exposures, highlighting the need for awareness, early diagnosis, and HPV vaccination.
The FDA has approved Merck's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for perioperative treatment of resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma expressing PD-L1, based on trial data showing a 30% reduction in event-free survival events, potentially shifting treatment standards for this cancer type.
Recent studies presented at ASCO show that immunotherapy drugs like Opdivo, Imfinzi, and Tecentriq are effective in treating early and mid-stage cancers, significantly reducing recurrence rates and potentially transforming standard care practices for cancers such as head and neck, gastric, and colon cancers, with promising implications for patient survival and cure rates.
A groundbreaking clinical trial shows that an immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab, doubles the time head and neck cancer patients remain cancer-free, offering new hope for a difficult-to-treat cancer, with promising results suggesting it should be made available on the NHS.
A groundbreaking clinical trial shows that the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab can double the time head and neck cancer patients remain cancer-free compared to standard treatments, offering new hope for improved outcomes in these patients.
A new analysis of over 3.4 million people shows that vaccinating boys and men against HPV significantly reduces their risk of head and neck cancers and other malignancies, extending the known benefits of the vaccine beyond cervical cancer prevention in women. The study highlights the importance of HPV vaccination for both genders, with vaccinated males showing notably lower rates of HPV-related cancers.
New research suggests that the HPV vaccine significantly reduces the risk of head and neck cancers in men, with vaccinated males showing a 54% lower risk of HPV-related cancers. The study, which analyzed health records of nearly 3.5 million people, highlights the importance of HPV vaccination for both males and females in preventing various cancers. The findings will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference.
A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania has found that injecting the local anesthetic lidocaine near the site of head and throat tumors can activate bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) in cancer cells, leading to cellular death. Lidocaine was already suspected to be beneficial to cancer patients, but this study provides a better understanding of how it works. The findings could potentially improve treatment options for head and neck cancer patients and pave the way for clinical trials combining lidocaine with standard cancer therapies.
Results from a phase III clinical trial suggest that dysphagia-optimized intensity-modulated radiotherapy (DO-IMRT) could become the new gold standard for treating head and neck cancer patients. The trial compared DO-IMRT with standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and found that DO-IMRT reduced the risk of swallowing difficulties without compromising treatment success. After two years, patients treated with DO-IMRT reported better swallowing function and higher normalcy of diet compared to those treated with IMRT. The tailored approach of DO-IMRT involves reducing radiation to the muscles involved in swallowing, which can help minimize side effects and improve patients' quality of life.
A large study has found a link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and an increased risk of developing head, neck, and esophageal cancers. The study suggests that factors other than obesity, such as additives and contaminants in UPFs, may contribute to this association. The findings emphasize the need to explore mechanisms beyond body fat to understand the relationship between UPFs and cancer risk. Further research is needed to replicate the study's findings and investigate contemporary consumption habits.
Lidocaine, a commonly used local anesthetic, has been found to have anticancer properties by activating the T2R14 taste receptor, which is highly expressed in various cancer cells. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that lidocaine triggers a cascade of cellular signals that lead to controlled cell death. This finding offers hope for improving treatment options for head and neck cancer, which has a high mortality rate. Lidocaine could potentially be injected near accessible oral tumors and may also benefit patients with other forms of cancer. The study opens the possibility of repurposing other drugs that activate the T2R14 receptor for cancer treatment. Clinical trials are hoped to be conducted to explore the addition of lidocaine to standard care therapy for head and neck cancer patients.
