BACKGROUND With the increased use of neoadjuvant therapy for advanced stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, we have observed an apparent change in the pattern of failure from predominantly locoregional sites to distant metastases. We reviewed the patterns of failure in cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx at our institution during the last decade. OBJECTIVE To dete...

IMPORTANCE The relatively high and possibly rising incidence of mouth squamous cell carcinoma in nonsmokers, especially women, without obvious cause has been noted by previous authors. Is chronic dental trauma and irritation a carcinogen, and what is its importance compared with human papillomavirus (HPV) oropharyngeal cancer in nonsmokers? OBJECTIVE To determine whether oral cavity cancers o...

Individual bacteria and shifts in the composition of the microbiome have been associated with human diseases including cancer. To investigate changes in the microbiome associated with oral cancers, we profiled cancers and anatomically matched contralateral normal tissue from the same patient by sequencing 16S rDNA hypervariable region amplicons. In cancer samples from both a discovery and a sub...

BACKGROUND Increasing evidence shows that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is preferentially associated with some head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), with variable infection rates reported. METHODS We assessed HPV involvement in HNSCC using the Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test, which can detect 37 different HPV types. We examined the prevalence of HPV infection in 92 HNSCCs (orop...

BACKGROUND Our goal was to determine the impact of reconstructive microsurgery on the treatment of advanced oral cavity cancers. METHODS We reviewed 484 patients undergoing resection of T3-4 oral cavity squamous cell cancers from 1980 to 2004. To examine how reconstructive microsurgery affects outcomes, we compared 135 patients treated prior to the introduction of free tissue transfer and 349...

Oral cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and is among the ten most common cancers. Despite the advances in research and treatment, oral cancer is still one of the major challenges in medical science. Common treatments for this cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, as well as adjuvant photodynamic therapy (PDT). The aim of this study was to evaluate oral cancer an...

The oral cavity is the most predominant location in the head and neck region for primary malignant tumors, and more than 90 % cancer consists of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).(Shah and Patel 2003) SCC has a high propensity to early and extensive lymph node metastases. Regarding cancer stage distribution at diagnosis, regional spread is more frequent in cancers of oral cavity and pharynx compare...

Management of oral health plays an integral role in the treatment of Head & Neck Cancers. Radiation therapy is a significant treatment modality in the management of Head and Neck Cancers. However, high dose of radiation is also associated with side effects. Oral health management plays an important role in preventing these complications. Therefore it is mandatory to initiate prompt oral health ...

One hallmark of cancer is the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is caused by proteinases. In oral cancers, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9, are associated with this degradation. MMPs break down the ECM allowing cancer to spread; they also release various factors from their cryptic sites, including cytokines. These factors modulate cell behavior and enhance ...

Many malignant tumours other than squamous cell carcinoma may present in the oral cavity. Melanomas of the oral cavity are usually pigmented, aggressive tumours associated with a poor prognosis. Neoplasms of the minor salivary glands have a greater tendency to be malignant than those of the major glands, and some exhibit a predilection for occurring in the mouth. Many types of connective tissue...