April 12th 2024
LYT-200 is currently being investigated for those with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
Equalizing Inequities™ in Multiple Myeloma Care: Shining a Light on Current Barriers and Opportunities for Improved Outcomes
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Community Oncology Connections™: Overcoming Barriers to Testing, Trial Access, and Equitable Care in Cancer
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Community Practice Connections™: 5th Annual Precision Medicine Symposium – An Illustrated Tumor Board
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ECC: Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy Improved Survival for Head and Neck Cancers
October 2nd 2013The use of altered fractionation radiotherapy increased overall survival in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers when compared with standard radiation, according to the results of a meta-analysis presented on Saturday at the 2013 European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam.
In Intermediate-Risk Nasopharyngeal Cancers, PET/CT Appropriate for Detecting Distant Metastases
August 23rd 2013Researchers in China have found that the use of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT detected a greater number of distant metastases than conventional work-up imaging in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Escitalopram for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Cut Depression in Half
June 25th 2013Prophylactic use of the SSRI escitalopram decreased the occurrence of depression in patients with head and neck cancers by 50% and resulted in significantly improved quality of life for 3 months after drug cessation, according to the results of the PROTECT trial.
Locoregional Recurrence of an HPV-Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Locoregional recurrences are a major source of morbidity and mortality for patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC).
Latest PARSPORT Results Confirm: IMRT Greatly Reduces Treatment Effects in Head and Neck Cancer
January 19th 2011Two-year results from the largest randomized trial of IMRT in head and neck cancer confirm that it dramatically reduces the risk of dysphagia and xerostomia. The study was too small to establish a survival advantage, although the results are encouraging.
A Shifting Paradigm for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS)
October 15th 2010This paper by Drs. Bhayani, Holsinger, and Lai describes a new approach to an old problem. Advances in the management of head and neck cancer over the past few decades have been made predominantly in the area of non-surgical therapy. Starting with the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Trial for laryngeal cancer in the early 1990’s,[1] advances in the administration of chemotherapy and radiation therapy have enabled patients to forego traditional extensive resections that compromised speech and swallowing function.[2] The advances in combined chemoradiation for advanced head and neck cancer have come with a detriment to some patients in survival and quality of life.[3] Effective treatment, but with decreased morbidity was needed.
Robotics in Head and Neck Cancer: Future Opportunities
October 15th 2010A series of promising new advances have emerged in H&N oncology in recent years. Among these are the advancement of highly conformal radiation delivery techniques (e.g. IMRT, protons); the successful introduction of molecular targeted therapies (e.g. cetuximab); the recognition of HPV as a powerful prognostic biomarker; and the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques. The application of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in H&N cancer is reviewed by Bhayani et al in this issue of ONCOLOGY[1].
Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS): The Natural Evolution of Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery
October 15th 2010The article presented by Bhayani, Holsinger, and Lai thoroughly evaluates the emergence of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) as a technique in the field of otolaryngology. Transoral approaches to the upper aerodigestive tract, whether for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, represent core tenets of the discipline and formed one of the bases for the inception of the specialty. Innovations and refinements in optics and materials have steadily increased the view, reach, and, consequently the effectiveness of the endoscopic surgeon with each passing decade. In the past thirty years, the introduction of the laser has further enhanced the capabilities of the surgeon, augmenting treatment options beyond open tumor resection and chemoradiation. The introduction of the daVinci robot is an incremental step in the development of techniques that have been evolving over the past one hundred and twenty years.
A Shifting Paradigm for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS)
October 15th 2010The evolution of surgical oncologic technology has moved toward reducing patient morbidity without compromising oncologic resection. In head and neck surgery, organ-preserving techniques have paved the way for the development of transoral techniques that remove tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract without external incisions and potentially spare the patient adjuvant treatment. The introduction of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) improves upon current transoral techniques to the oropharynx and supraglottis. This review will report on the evolution of robotic-assisted surgery: We will cover its applications in head and neck surgery by examining early oncologic and functional outcomes, training of surgeons, costs, and future directions.
Nuances in the Changing Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancer
September 15th 2010Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a heterogeneous group of malignancies caused by the traditional risk factors of tobacco, alcohol, and poor oral hygiene, as well as more recently identified roles of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).[1-3] We commend Kim and colleagues on their comprehensive review of the epidemiology of HNSCC. There has been a clear change in the epidemiology of HNSCC which has further accentuated differences in etiology, survival, and demographics among HNSCC patients. We will discuss several important nuances of this changing epidemiology, including the role of tobacco, race, sexual behavior, and gender, as well as HNSCC in nonsmokers and nondrinkers.
Human Papillomavirus and Head and Neck Cancer
September 15th 2010As outlined by Leslie Kim and colleagues in this issue of ONCOLOGY,[1] almost 650,000 new cases of head and neck cancer are identified and approximately 350,000 individuals die from this disease worldwide each year. Most cancers of the head and neck are squamous cell carcinomas and originate from one of five major sites: oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Traditionally, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption have been considered to be the main risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and, thus far, most prevention strategies and public health messages have focused on these two factors. However, as described in the review by Kim et al., there is increasing evidence that, independent of tobacco and alcohol exposure, oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major risk factor for a specific subset of HNSCCs. We agree with the authors that this is an important public health concern, especially given the increasing prevalence of HPV infection in the US and Western Europe and our limited knowledge about the natural history of oral HPV infection. Here we summarize the role of HPV in HNSCC and discuss clinical implications.
Head and Neck Cancer: Changing Epidemiology and Public Health Implications
September 15th 2010Characterizing the epidemiology of head and neck cancers is challenging and has received limited attention in the medical literature. Traditionally, 80%–90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have been attributed to tobacco and alcohol use, but with growing public awareness and tobacco control efforts over the past few decades, there has been a downward trend in smoking prevalence in the US. There is also emerging evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for inconsistencies in HNSCC trends, with oncogenic HPV DNA found in approximately half of oropharyngeal cancers and in a high proportion of oropharyngeal cancers in nonsmokers and nondrinkers. The risk to HNSCC epidemiology is that whatever gains continue to be made in tobacco control may become lost in the increasing numbers of oropharyngeal cancers due to HPV. The purpose of this review is to explore the changing epidemiology of HNSCC, focusing on how it has been shaped by health policy and advocacy interventions and how it will continue to have public health implications in the future, particularly in considering preventive strategies against HPV. Given that the majority of HNSCCs are the result of exposure to preventable public health risks, more focus should be given to this area.
Transoral Robotic Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer Feels a Lot Better Than Chemoradiation-But Is It?
March 16th 2010Removing an oropharyngeal tumor through the open mouth using robotic instruments now has FDA approval, and its safety is well documented. Comparative evidence of its effectiveness is beginning to trickle in.
In Search of Rigorous Data on How to Palliate the EGFR Inhibitor–Induced Rash
February 19th 2009Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors have emerged as important drugs in cancer therapy, providing a proven survival advantage for some patients with non–small-cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, and pancreas cancer.
Management of Locally Advanced or Unresectable Head and Neck Cancer
September 2nd 2008About 500,000 head and neck carcinomas are diagnosed worldwide annually. This accounts for approximately 8% of all newly diagnosed cases of cancer, ranking head and neck carcinoma the sixth most common.[1] In the United States, 47,560 new head and neck carcinomas are expected to be diagnosed in 2008,[2] and this disease accounts for 5% of all newly diagnosed cases of cancer. Approximately 90% to 95% are squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHNs).
Rapidly Growing Options for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
September 1st 2008In the past, locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer routinely was treated by surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy, unless the disease was too extensive to be resected and treatment defaulted to radiation therapy alone.
Treatment of Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: Past, Present, and Future
September 1st 2008Bruce Culliney and colleagues have provided a thorough and well written summary of the literature regarding multimodality treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced or unresectable head and neck malignancies. In particular, they offer a detailed outline of recent insights into radiation dosing and fractionation and their optimal use in the combined-modality setting.