Featured Research
from universities, journals, and other organizations
New research shows possibility of cure for HPV positive throat cancer patients
Date:
February 12, 2015
Source:
European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
Summary:
Researchers from Canada have shown for the first time that some patients with HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer can be cured, even after the disease has spread to other organs.
Patients with cancer of the throat caused by the Human Papilloma virus (HPV+) have a better prognosis than those who are negative for the virus (HPV-). Now, for the first time, researchers have shown with convincing evidence that a group of patients with HPV+ cancer of the oropharynx (the part of the throat located behind the mouth, that makes up the region of the tonsils and the back part of the tongue where it connects to the swallowing part of the throat), can be cured in some cases even after disease has spread to distant organs in the body, like the lungs.
Related Articles
Dr Sophie Huang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, will tell the 5th International Conference on Innovative Approaches in Head and Neck Oncology (ICHNO) today (Friday) that her research has shown that, following intensive treatment, certain patients with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and distant metastases (tumours appearing in an organ not directly related to the primary cancer site) can survive for more than two years without further evidence of disease. Such cancers are usually considered to be incurable, and the goal of treatment is usually limited to symptom control. "Our research, the largest study to date to explore survival predictors for metastatic HPV+ and HPV- oropharyngeal cancer patients, has shown that cure is a realistic goal in those patients with oligometastasis -- metastases involving five or fewer lesions in one distant organ," she will say.
Dr Huang and colleagues identified 934 patients with HPV+ OPC out of the 1238 OPC patients who had been treated at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between 2000 and 2011. Distant metastases were detected in 15% of these patients; 88 in the HPV+ group and 54 in those with HPV- disease. Oligometastasis was present in 24 HPV+ patients with distant metastases in a single organ.
The researchers found two types of distinct distant metastases in HPV(+) patients: "explosive" and "indolent" metastases. The explosive type metastasis, where more than ten lesions in one organ appear quickly in a short period (within three months of appearance of the first lesion), was present in 55% of the HPV+ group, as opposed to none in those who were HPV-. In both HPV+ and HPV- groups, lung was the most common metastatic site. The indolent type of metastases grow and spread at a much slower pace, most often manifesting as oligometastasis. This occurred in 24% of the HPV+ cases with metastases in a single organ as opposed to 26% of those who had HPV- cancer.
"In the HPV+ group of patients with oligometastases, when they were given definitive local treatment aimed at disease control -- for example, a high radiation dose or surgical removal of the metastatic lesion, as opposed to a less aggressive treatment used to control symptoms -there was a long term disease-free period, suggesting that some may be cured," Dr Huang will say. "In the HPV+ group with oligometases 25% were still alive after three years, whereas the percentage in the HPV- group was 15%."
The survival advantage in HPV+ OPC patients is due to a number of factors, the researchers say. The cancer is more sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy; the patients tend to be younger (an average age of 55 at diagnosis as opposed to 65) with fewer other health problems, including those caused by smoking-related illness, and this enables them to receive the more aggressive treatment necessary to eradicate metastatic disease.
The percentage of HPV positive to negative OPC cancers varies globally, depending on a number of factors, including the prevalence of smoking and the practice of oral sex. Overall the incidence of HPV+ throat cancers has increased over the past 20 years in developed countries, such as US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and some European countries. [1]
"This research has shown that metastatic HPV+ OPC patients who receive active treatment can survive considerably longer than those who did not receive treatment. One of the reasons patients with metastatic disease do not receive aggressive treatment is due to the physician and patient's perception that this is an incurable state. We hope that these results will motivate researchers to optimise management strategies for these patients. This will not only help to produce a better quality of life and a return to work for them, but also reduce the cost to healthcare systems," Dr Huang will say.
"We also hope that our study may trigger research to explore cost-effective methods for the early detection of metastases. Optimising and tailoring surveillance strategies for HPV+ patients are also important. For example, our research has shown that the surveillance period should be longer than the traditional two-year window, due to the possibility of later onset of metastases. Selecting the appropriate imaging method in order to detect asymptomatic oligometastasis (e.g. ultrasound for the early detection of liver metastasis) may allow salvage treatment of some patients before the cancer progresses. Finally, we hope that it will help clinicians identify patients who are best able to benefit from aggressive treatment, such as metastasectomy (surgical removal of the metastases) or stereotactic radiotherapy (highly focused high dose radiotherapy to small regions)," Dr Huang will say.
Whether it is possible to identify which patients at initial presentation are at high risk of developing distant metastasis, and which type of distant metastasis will subsequently develop are other important questions for future studies, say the researchers. "We know there is a degree of correlation between the initial stage and the risk of distant metastasis, but we did not find a strong relationship between this stage and the type of metastasis. The intensity of cigarette smoking in the years prior to the time of diagnosis is a possible factor. Being able to identify such relationships could be a huge help in deciding appropriate treatment at an early stage," Dr Huang will say.
Although head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, awareness of it is low, and hence the majority of diagnoses are not made until the disease is in an advanced stage, resulting in limited treatment choices and hence a reduction in the chance of survival.
Professor Jean Bourhis, co-chair of the conference scientific committee, said: This important piece of research adds substantially to what we know about the role and the importance of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in oropharyngeal cancers and gives real hope of improvement in both diagnosis and treatment to those who are affected by the condition."
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Cite This Page:
Share This
More From ScienceDaily
More Health & Medicine News
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Featured Research
from universities, journals, and other organizations
New Mechanism That Controls Immune Responses Discovered
Feb. 12, 2015 — Researchers have identified a common signaling mechanism to produce interferon -- one of the main proteins used to signal the immune system when the body needs to defend itself against a virus, ... full story
- New Mechanism Controls Immune Responses
- Possible Cure: HPV Positive Throat Cancer ...
- Immunity: Dual Role for Key T Cell Factor
- Beavers Show Way to Improve Our Tooth Enamel
- Biomarkers of Sleep Debt in Humans, Rats
- Live Assessment of Blood Formation
- Key to Blocking Flu Virus: Target Certain Enzymes
- Aggressive Form of HIV Uncovered in Cuba
- Scientists Overturn Dogma On the Plague
- Suppressing the Spread of Melanoma
newer top stories | older top stories
Breaking News:
Strange & Offbeat Stories
Health & Medicine
- Extreme Mechano-Sensitive Neurons of Tactile-Foraging Ducks Fit the Bill for Touch Research
- Molecular Gastronomy: Understanding Physical and Chemical Processes of Cooking and Eating
- Controlling Genes With Light: Light-Activated Genes Might Be Precisely Controlled and Targeted
- 3-D Vaccine Spontaneously Assembles to Pack a Powerful Punch Against Cancer, Infectious Diseases
- Drug-Resistant Bacteria Lurk in Subway Stations, High School Students Discover
Mind & Brain
- Curious Monkeys Share Our Thirst for Knowledge
- Dogs Know That Smile on Your Face
- Reality Is Distorted in Brain's Maps
- Apes Prefer the Glass Half Full: Nearest Primate Relatives Also Susceptible to Marketing Spin
- Will Your Partner Stay or Stray? Look at Finger Length
Living & Well
- F-Bombs Notwithstanding, All Languages Skew Toward Happiness: Universal Human Bias for Positive Words
- Settling for 'Mr. Right Now' Better Than Waiting for 'Mr. Right', Shows Model of Digital Organisms
- Add Nature, Art and Religion to Life's Best Anti-Inflammatories
- Power Psychs People Up About... Themselves
- Skip the Dip! Super Bowl Team Cities See Spike in Flu Deaths
In Other News
... from NewsDaily.com
Science News
- Furry forerunners: Jurassic arboreal, burrowing mammals unearthed
- SpaceX rocket blasts off to put weather satellite into deep space
- Tests planned on mysterious 'milky rain' in U.S. Pacific Northwest
- Britain gives go-ahead to test driverless cars on roads
- Europe tests spaceplane in push for reusable space tech
Health News
- Doctors warn of healthcare impact from Pacific trade pact
- Softer, less strident outreach may help calm U.S. vaccine skeptics
- Commuter infected with measles is San Francisco LinkedIn employee
- For many of China's biotech brains-in-exile, it's time to come home
- Clinical trials may under report side effects of cancer drugs
Environment News
- U.S. pushes $200 million toward protecting imperiled sage grouse
- Environmentalists in California target Chevron election spending
- World's oceans clogged by millions of tons of plastic trash
- U.S. 'clean coal' project demise shows EPA plan's weakness: lawyers
- Toxic orange cloud spreads after chemical blast near Barcelona
Technology News
- King Digital winning, Zynga losing in games wars
- Groupon outlook disappoints; Ticket Monster draws interest
- Cybersecurity prep seen as mounting task for small U.S. advisers
- China's Xiaomi to start small in U.S., with earphones and bands
- New games help King Digital revenue, profit beat estimates
I'm giving a testimony about Dr Nogadu the great Herbalist, he has the cure to all manner of diseases, he cured my herpes simplex virus, though I went through different website I saw different testimonies about different spell casters and herbalist, I was like: 'Many people's have the herpes simplex virus cure why are people still suffering from it?' I though of it, then I contact Dr Nogadu via email, I didn't believe him that much, I just wanted to give him a try, he replied my mail and Needed some Information about me, then I sent them to him, he prepared it (CURE) and sent it to me through Air freight Online Courier Service for delivery, he gave my details to the Courier Office, they told me that 2-4 days I will receive the parcel and i took the medicine as prescribed by him and I went for check up 2 week after finishing the medicine, I was tested herpes simplex virus negative, if you are herpes simplex virus patient do me a favour by contacting him and I assure anyone who is suffering from it, your problem will never remain the same again you will be cured also Dr Nogadu help my brother wife to cure her cervical cancer she was suffering from the past 5 years, After he {cure} my herpes simplex virus, then my brother heard about it, he went home to tell his wife about Dr Nogadu then his wife email him and explain her problem to him, he also prepare herbal medicine and he use Air freight courier service to sent her the herbal medicine and he instruct her on how she will be using it for 14 days, That on the 15 days of it, she should go and check her self in the hospital and she did as she was instructed by Dr Nogadu, to GOD be the glory she was cure of her cervical cancer which she was suffering from for the past 5 years thanks to these great man we will ever remain grateful to you sir for the good work you did in our family. When you contact him, make sure you tell him that I refer you.. contact him via: drnogaduherbalist@gmail.com or WhatsApp him on +2347010627760.
ReplyDeleteTHERE IS A CURE FOR HIV/AIDS Never give up in life they all said there is no cure for HIV, which is a big lie I have passed through many processes. Also, I never believed there is really a cure to HIV/AIDS until I met Dr. James. The doctor that has been helping people for many years, I came across this doctor online when I was searching for an HIV permanent cure online. I found out about Dr. James, and to my greatest surprise Dr. James has the herbal medicine for HIV cure which I have been looking for years I explained my problems to him through the email I found on someone who testified about Dr. James herbal mix write me a reply and explain how the process work so after ordering for the medicine I got it within 4 days and I took it according to the way Dr. James instructed me, I was very happy after 21 days I took the medicine there was very big change in my health when I was done with the process I went for a test, I found out I am negative that was the day I have the tears of joy after all i have been through. You can also get in contact with my doctor through his email now (Greatcureman@gmail.com) And He also has herbs medicine to cure the following diseases; Nephrotic Syndrome, eczema, urethra wart, chronic problems. Herpes, Cancer, ALS, Autism, Hepatitis, Diabetes, HPV infections, Hives, shingles, blistering, ulcer, Painful or Irregular Menstruation. HIV/Aids. Diabetics. Vaginal Infections. Vaginal Discharge. Itching Of the Private Part. Breast Infection. Discharge from breast. Breast Pain & Itching. Lower Abdominal Pain. No Periods or Periods Suddenly Stop. Women Sexual Problems. High Blood Pressure Chronic Disease. Pain during Sex inside the Pelvis. Pain during Urination. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, (PID). Dripping Of Sperm from the Vagina As Well As for Low sperm count. Parkinson's disease. Lupus. Cancer. Tuberculosis. Zero sperm count. Asthma. Quick Ejaculation. Gallstone, Premature Ejaculation. Herpes. Joint Pain. Stroke. Weak Erection. Erysipelas, Typhoid, Discharge from Penis. HPV. Hepatitis A and B. STD. Staphylococcus + Gonorrhea + Syphilis. Heart Disease. Pile-Hemorrhoid.rheumatism, thyroid, Waist & Back Pain. Male Infertility and Female Infertility. Etc. Take Action Now. Contact him & Order for your Natural Herbal Medicine: and email him Greatcureman@gmail.com...INFO@Drjamesherbalmix@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteBEST NATURAL TREATMENT FOR HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) earning that you have HPV can be one of the most difficult experiences you go through in life. You may feel scared, sad or even angry – this is OK, and a completely natural part of coping with something that can be life changing.
ReplyDeleteIt will probably take a while for the news to sink in.
My name is Johnny Mary and i am from the United States.
I remember spending so much money buying drugs from hospitals hoping that i will be cured from HPV VIRUS, but all to no avail. I contacted so many doctors and they prescribe medicine for me which they indeed tried their best but was unable to provide for me a possible cure, luckily i saw a comment about a herbal doctor, (Dr.Ogberaese) online.
I then contacted him (Dr.Ogberaese) through his email, After much chat and enquiry with the doctor, i decide to take a leap of faith because i have nothing to loose.
To my greatest surprise, Dr.Ogberaese prepare a medicine and send me a Herbal Medicine through FEDEX courier Service, and he gave me guidelines on how am to take it. I followed all procedures as instructed, and after 2 weeks of taking it i was cure from HPV VIRUS his medicine is legit and it is real. I just want to encourage all individuals out there living with HERPES , ITCHY SHINGLES , Genital Herpes, HSV1&2, HIV/AIDS/ HPV, COPD, CANCER, Hepatitis b, Lupus, PCOS, Kidney failure, Lung cancer and alot more. That there is still a huge chance that you can get cure only with the help of dr Ogberaese. kindly contact him via email: drogberaese54@gmail.com or whatsapp: +2348073818653