HOW TO PREDICT THROAT CANCER
A new study reveals the possibility of predicting the recurrence of oropharyngeal cancer.
Oropharyngeal cancer can occur in the mouth, throat, neck, and lungs.
If it is assessed at the early stage it is very easy to remove it and cure it.
Usually, throat cancers are linked with a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV).
It is good news that usually the HPV linked cancers are easily curable and they are very responsive to treatments.
But it is a confusing statement as about 15% to 20% of these patients are non-responsive and there are a high possibility of recurrence of the cancers to these people and no biomarkers are available for them.
They selected two groups of human specimens. They selected a total of 52 patients who developed and treated for HPV fuelled throat cancer. They divided the 52 patients as 30 patients who do not show a recurrence of the disease and 22 who do show the recurrence. The two groups were similar in age, smoking pattern, and cancer classifications. All have cancer developed by the HPV virus.
Both groups were subjected to have blood tests for antibodies. These tests should be taken at the start of the treatment, at the end of the treatment, and after three months of the treatment followed by the last test after one year as the recurrence will usually occur after 13 months.
They found that the group of 22 who has a high risk of recurrence have a raised level of antibody against the protein E-7.
There are genetic proteins known as E-6 and E-7 usually present during the HPV induced cancers. After the cure, these antibodies should decline in the blood. But in the patients who are prone to get a recurrence in their blood have a raised level of the antibody for the protein E-7.
Further, the researchers found that after the end of treatment up to three months both the groups show a decline in the antibodies E-6 and E-7. But after three months the blood of the group who is prone to get a recurrence shows no marked further decline of the antibody E-7. Instead, the blood shows a rise in the level of E-7. These are the group prone to a recurrence at any time. But different kinds of patients have different marker levels and hence every patient must check their blood once every three months. If it was caught up the point from which the antibody E-7 rises is the biomarker for that patient.
Oropharyngeal cancer is curable if it has been in the early stages by using the biomarker. They occur under the tongue, neck, throat, or lungs.
They found that the group of 22 who has a high risk of recurrence have a raised level of antibody against the protein E-7.
There are genetic proteins known as E-6 and E-7 usually present during the HPV induced cancers. After the cure, these antibodies should decline in the blood. But in the patients who are prone to get a recurrence in their blood have a raised level of the antibody for the protein E-7.
Further, the researchers found that after the end of treatment up to three months both the groups show a decline in the antibodies E-6 and E-7. But after three months the blood of the group who is prone to get a recurrence shows no marked further decline of the antibody E-7. Instead, the blood shows a rise in the level of E-7. These are the group prone to a recurrence at any time. But different kinds of patients have different marker levels and hence every patient must check their blood once every three months. If it was caught up the point from which the antibody E-7 rises is the biomarker for that patient.
Oropharyngeal cancer is curable if it has been in the early stages by using the biomarker. They occur under the tongue, neck, throat, or lungs.
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