Cancer Treatment Breakthrough Welcomed By Leading Mouth Cancer Campaigners

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Dentistry
Article Date: 05 May 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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A potential development in mouth cancer treatment is to be welcomed, says the organiser of the annual Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign The British Dental Health Foundation has welcomed results of studies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University*.

Research has suggested an anti-cancer compound could help treat mouth cancer, a disease which kills one person every five hours in the UK. Studies showed that the compound killed off mouth cancer cells removed from head and neck cancer patients.

Currently just half of those diagnosed with mouth cancer survive beyond five years. Nearly 5,000 are diagnosed in the UK each year.

The new studies - found when scientists tested a drug for its effects on blood cancer and reported in yesterday's online edition of the Journal of Pathology - will be hoped to mark a significant breakthrough.

The experimental drug involved new chemotherapy agents known as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors - which limit cell growth.

Lead researcher, Einstein clinician Richard Smith, M.D. said: "This report shows that an HDAC inhibitor is effective on head and neck cancer cell lines, and that is the first step toward use in humans."

Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter received the report enthusiastically saying: "Such news, though very early days, is to be welcomed as the low long-term survival rate from mouth cancer makes the disease one of the deadliest.

"Currently the best chance of beating the cancer comes from early detection, improving survival rates to more than 90 per cent, so it is important to follow the slogan of the Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign: 'If in doubt, get checked out.'

"Though this research could prove important it is vital that dentists and health professionals continue to perform oral screenings and educate on how to look out for signs of oral cancer. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle also helps to prevent problems developing."

The most common causes of oral cancer are smoking and drinking alcohol to excess, linked to 80 per cent of cases. Research has recently suggested that the human papillomavirus (HPV). transmitted via oral sex, could soon become most common causes of the disease.

Quitting smoking, cutting down on booze and eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables lowers the risk of mouth cancer.

Self-examination is another simple way of looking after yourself. Early warning signs of mouth cancer include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps and swellings in the mouth and neck.

Mouth Cancer Action Month 2009 takes place November 1st to November 30th. For more information go online at http://www.mouthcancer.org or call the National Dental Helpline on 0845 063 1188.

'The histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 inhibits expression of mitotic genes causing G2/M arrest and cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines';
Smith, R., Prystowsky, M. et al;
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University 2009.

Link to abstract

Source
British Dental Health Foundation

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