Science 140 p16 | Caries prevention p22 | Whitening p37 | Research. Discovery could lead to more effective treatments for cancer
Queen’s scientists make cancer breakthrough
A major breakthrough by Northern Irish scientists could lead to more effective treatments for throat and cervical cancer.
The development, by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast, could see the development of new therapies that would target the non-cancerous cells surrounding a tumour, as well as treating the tumour itself.
Scientists at Queen’s Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology found that the non-cancerous tissue, or ‘stroma’, surrounding cancers of the throat and cervix, play an important role in regulating the spread of cancer. The discovery opens the door for the develop- ment of new treatments, which, by targeting this non-cancerous tissue, could prevent it being invaded by neighbouring cancer cells. The research is being led by
Mouth Cancer Awareness Day is back
CAMPAIGN
After the success of the last two years, Mouth Cancer Awareness Day returns on 19 September with hundreds of practices across Ireland expected to take part.
Last year saw up to 10,000 patients seen at more than 700 practices nationwide and the 2012 event is promising to be even more popular.
The initial awareness day was run in 2010 at Dublin and Cork University Dental Hospitals and saw more than 3,000 patients assessed. Of the 1,800 who were seen in Dublin, 29 suspi- cious lesions requiring biopsy were found, as well as three early
Professor Dennis McCance. He said: “Cancer spreads as the result of two-way communica- tion between the cancer cells in a tumour and the non-cancerous cells in the surrounding tissue. “We already know that cancer cells are intrinsically programmed to invade neighbouring healthy tissue. But the cells in the non-cancerous tissue are also
cancers and two established cancers. In Cork, 49 pre-malignant lesions and one cancer were found out of nearly 1,400 people. It is thought that fewer than 50 per cent of patients diagnosed with mouth cancer survive more than five years. “Two Irish people are dying every week from this lethal disease. More worryingly, the inci- dence of it is increasing in younger people and it is unclear why this is happening,” commented Prof Leo Stassen, a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Dublin Dental School and Hospital and St James’s Hospital.
He claimed that the HSE is ignoring this serious disease by not giving it enough attention or resources.
® To find out more about the awareness day and to download useful resources to enable your practice to take part, visit
www.mouthcancerawareness.ie
Above:
Researchers at QUB have made an important discovery
programmed to send messages to the cancer cells, actively encour- aging them to invade. If these messages can be switched-off, then the spread of the cancer will be inhibited.
“What we have discovered is that a particular protein in non- cancerous tissue has the ability to either open or close the commu- nication pathway between the healthy tissue and the tumour. When the Retinoblastoma protein (Rb) in non-cancerous tissue is activated, this leads to a decrease in factors that encourage invasion by cancer cells. And so, the cancer doesn’t spread.”
The research was funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre and the National Institutes of Health (USA), and supported by the Northern Ireland Biobank.
Public asked for views on hospital services
CONSULTATION
Northern Irish Health Minister Edwin Poots has launched a draft report into the future of consultant-led hospital dental services in the province.
The report, which will be open for public consultation until 12 October, assesses the current arrangements for the provision of the seven specialist consultant-led services. Mr Poots said: “I want a hospital dental service which is based on the needs of the population, and inspires public confidence. It needs to be delivered to a high standard, as close as possible to the patient.
“Some patients have highly complex oral health needs which require specialist skills. We need to ensure that these skills are available in Northern Ireland. This can only be achieved through explicit support for training, education and accreditation of services provided.”
Ireland’s Dental magazine 7
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