New HPV Salivary Test to Detect Oral Cancer
One of our goals here at The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation is to stay informed on new research and developments as they relate to oral cancer. Recently OralDNA Labs introduced a new test that will help dentists diagnose particular forms of oral cancer.
Shockingly, recent results have show that 50% of oral cancer cases are the resultant of HPV virus. This is a huge percentage, which is a leading factor in OralDNA Labs’ interest in finding a better way to diagnose and detect HPV in at-risk patients. According to OralDNA Labs, at-risk includes:
- Sexually active
- Family history of oral cancer
- Signs and symptoms of oral cancer
- Traditional risk factors for oral cancer
- Suspicious oral lesions
Chief Dental Officer, Thomas W. Nabors, DDC offers this information regarding the effectiveness of the detection tool:
“Oral HPV is a silent, serious infection that can now be detected adn closely monitored by the dental professional. Specifically, the laboratory report derived from the OraRisk HPV salivary diagnostic test helps dental professionals identify the specific types(s) of HPV present, as well as the associated risk profile for each type of HPV variant detected in the patient’s oral cavity.”
Having these types of salivary test should be a part of every patient’s plan as together we all fight oral cancer.
“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.“
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Oral Cancer Research: Oral Cancer Patients Needed
A fundamental requirement for the fight against oral cancer and finding a cure is effective research. Baylor Hospital of Dallas is committed to the fight and is currently recruiting oral cancer patients to participate in a clinical study.
About the Study
The purpose of the study is to determine if a saliva test will provide an opportunity for earlier detection of cancer cells in those that are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
Involvement of Participant
The involvement for the participant will be a one-time saliva collection. The collection will be in the morning before the patient eats, drinks or brushes his or her teeth.
Compensation: $30 (in cash) for their time and effort.
Process:
- Travel to the school
- Take a water mouth rinse
- Fill out consent form
- Participant will spit into a test tube that will be placed on ice.
- School will collect 8 ml saliva within 30 minutes of that time.
Eligible Patients
Baylor is looking for a couple of specific patients for this study. Below are some of the requirements that were posted on their website:
We need two types of oral cancer patients:
- Those who have been diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma and have not yet started treatment.
- Those who were diagnosed earlier with this oral cancer, completed treatment at least two years ago, and have had no recurrence since then.
The oral cancer patient has to be a person who has not smoked at all within one calendar year prior to the study
We need two types of lichen planus patients:
- Those who currently have active lichen planus lesions in the mouth.
- Those who have the asymptomatic reticular type of oral lichen planus, or who do not have oral lesions.
The lichen planus patient has to be a non-smoker (defined here as a person who has smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in his/her lifetime, and has not smoked at all within one calendar year prior to the study).
In addition, all patients must:
- Have no previous history of bone marrow transplants or kidney transplants.
- Have no history of hepatitis C, lupus erythematosus, or SjÅ‘gren’s syndrome.
- Have no history of other previous malignancies.
- Have no history of radiation therapy in the head and neck area.
- Have not used any corticosteroid or immunosuppressant, for any reason, for at least 1 week prior to participation in the study.
- Be a person who drinks fewer than 14 servings of alcoholic beverages per week (one serving is counted as the equivalent of 50 ml of win, 330 ml of beer, or 30 ml of hard liquor).
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For more information on the clinical study, please visit the Baylor Hospital website.
Oral Cancer Support Group Tonight!
Baylor Hospital in Plano hosts an Oral/Head & Neck Cancer Support Group once a month. This month Dr. Lee Fitzgerald and Arma Fitzgerald will be discussing oral cancer and the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation. The group will be held today, March 2, 2010 at 6:00pm.
This group is a part of the SPOHNC group that we participated in a fundraising event in September of 2009.
Visit the Baylor Health Group page for more information on the support group.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Online Oral Cancer Quiz
Knowing is half the battle and knowing early gives you a better chance at victory! At your next dental appointment ask your dentist for an oral cancer exam. Many dentists are making this a routine part of every dental examination, so you’ll want to make sure that you are receiving this service with each dental examination.
For those that have not had an oral cancer exam recently, there is also an oral cancer quiz that you can take that might shed some light on the situation. According to Medical News Today:
Having regular dental exams is the most important step, but knowing what to look for between check-ups is also critical.
Cigna Healthcare provides a short quiz that will test your knowledge on oral cancer. Click here to view the oral cancer quiz.
Knowing is half the battle.
“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.“
Explaining Head and Neck Cancer
Often times when we think of oral cancer we will automatically focus on cancer of the mouth. However, to understand oral cancer more thoroughly, you must understand head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer describes where the cancer originates.
MD Anderson provides the following list on the areas that head and neck cancers usually occur:
- Oral cavity (mouth, lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, tonsils and mouth floor)
- Salivary glands
- Nasal cavity / paranasal sinuses / nasopharynx
- Throat / pharynx
- Larynx / voice box
If you begin to experience a lump or sore in any of these areas that is not healing, a sore throat that will not go away, trouble swallowing or a change in your voice or hoarseness, you should visit your physician immediately.
