New research indicates that recurrence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancers affecting the oropharynx can be predicted by blood and saliva tests that screen for DNA fragments from HPV that have been shed by cancer cells. [s]News-Medical[/s] reports that although regular check-ups are conducted, imaging tests do not reliably show very early cancer growth, and the awkward location of oropharyngeal cancers make it difficult for physicians to spot lesions. But, according to Dr Joseph Califano, professor of Otolaryngology at [b]Johns Hopkins University[/b]: ‘There is a window of opportunity in the year after initial therapy to take an aggressive approach to spotting recurrences and intensively addressing them while they are still highly treatable. Until now, there has been no reliable biological way to identify which patients are at higher risk for recurrence, so these tests should greatly help’. He added that up to 90% of patients with early-stage, HPV-related oral cancers survive for at least 2 years and that, even after recurrence, more than 50% of patients live at least another two years. The new blood and saliva tests have the potential to further improve these rates.
[link url=http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140801/Blood-test-can-predict-recurrence-of-HPV-linked-oral-cancers.aspx]Full News-Medical report[/link]
[link url=http://archotol.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1890097]Archotol abstract[/link]