Decatur, TX – Oral cancer isn’t the most common form of this disease diagnosed in America, but it’s one of the deadliest. An estimated 40,000 new cases are reported annually in the United States with some 7,500 deaths. Recurrence of the disease is one of the biggest issues facing those who are diagnosed with oral cancer. Determining just who is at risk for recurrence has been problematic at best in the past. New research, however, may offer insights to better help doctors find and treat recurrences more readily.

“A substance found in the saliva of some oral cancer patients may serve as a marker for the likelihood of recurrence,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise. “While still highly preliminary, the results show that this substance may offer tremendous insights into the potential for recurrence. This insight could conceivably help practitioners detect, treat and beat recurrences more readily.”

Dr. Echt is referring to a new study published in JAMA Oncology. That study involved 124 oral cancer patients. During pre-treatment oral rinses about 64 patients were found to have human papillomavirus type 16 DNA in their saliva. Of that 64, 7 percent, or 5 patients, had the DNA marker in a saliva rinse post treatment. All five patients did develop local recurrences of oral cancer down the road.

“Much more work needs to be done to vet the findings on a larger scale,” says Dr. Echt. “If those findings hold strong, however, the marker may one day serve as an excellent prognostic tool for determining which patients are more likely to develop recurrences. This, in turn, could save lives with more rapid detection and treatment.”

People who are at risk for oral cancer are urged to discuss the topic with their healthcare providers. Those who have successfully undergone treatment are also urged to stick with follow-up screening protocols recommended to them.

About North Texas Cancer Center at Wise
North Texas Cancer Center at Wise, a division of Choice Cancer Care, is now operating as the Cancer Center at Wise Regional and is one of the most renowned cancer treatment centers in Texas. The center unites some of the best cancer doctors and surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Our expert team delivers superior cancer treatment in Texas, with the best results available.