Rare driver mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas converge on NOTCH signaling
In most human cancers, only a few genes are mutated at high frequencies; most are mutated at low frequencies. The functional consequences of these recurrent but infrequent "long tail" mutations are often unknown. We focused on 484 long tail genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and used in vivo CRISPR to screen for genes that, upon mutation, trigger tumor development in mice. Of the 15 tumor-suppressor genes identified, ADAM10 and AJUBA suppressed HNSCC in a haploinsufficient manner by promoting NOTCH receptor signaling. ADAM10 and AJUBA mutations or monoallelic loss occur in 28% of human HNSCC cases and a...
Source: ScienceNOW - March 11, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Loganathan, S. K., Schleicher, K., Malik, A., Quevedo, R., Langille, E., Teng, K., Oh, R. H., Rathod, B., Tsai, R., Samavarchi-Tehrani, P., Pugh, T. J., Gingras, A.-C., Schramek, D. Tags: Genetics, Medicine, Diseases reports Source Type: news

Arming the body's immune cells
(University of Cincinnati) Researchers at UC have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that could explain the reason behind decreased immune function in cancer patients and could be a new therapeutic target for immunotherapy for those with head and neck cancers. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - March 10, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Suicide attempts in patients with head and neck cancer in Taiwan - Sun LM, Lin CL, Shen WC, Kao CH.
We examined the risk of suicide attempts in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in comparison with that in the general population and in patients of other cancers (including all other cancers rather than HNC). METHODS: The definitio... (Source: SafetyLit)
Source: SafetyLit - March 7, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Suicide and Self-Harm Source Type: news

For a Time, an Old Drug Helps With PFS in a Head & Neck Cancer For a Time, an Old Drug Helps With PFS in a Head & Neck Cancer
Everolimus prolongs progression-free survival compared with placebo as long as patients with advanced head and neck cancer remain on it.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Hematology-Oncology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Hematology-Oncology Headlines - March 3, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Hematology-Oncology News Source Type: news

RT Plus Checkpoint Blockade Active in Head and Neck Cancer RT Plus Checkpoint Blockade Active in Head and Neck Cancer
The combination of radiotherapy plus immunotherapy leads to good disease control in locally advanced head and neck cancer while minimally increasing toxicity, said researchers.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Radiology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Radiology Headlines - March 2, 2020 Category: Radiology Tags: Hematology-Oncology News Source Type: news

RT + immunotherapy = head/neck cancer treatment option
A combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy shows promise for patients...Read more on AuntMinnie.comRelated Reading: ASTRO: AI predicts side effects from radiation therapy CT lung screening can catch recurring head, neck cancer Lung plus head/neck cancer screening delivers high yields PET/CT details hint at survival of head and neck cancer patients (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - February 28, 2020 Category: Radiology Source Type: news

Pre-operative immunotherapy triggers encouraging response in oral cancers
(American Society for Radiation Oncology) A new clinical trial suggests that immunotherapy given before other treatments for oral cavity cancers can elicit an immune response that shrinks tumors, which could provide long-term benefit for patients. In the randomized trial, two neoadjuvant doses of nivolumab given with or without ipilimumab led to complete or partial tumor shrinkage in most cases and did not delay any patients from continuing on to standard treatment. Findings will be presented at the 2020 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - February 27, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Radiation/immunotherapy combo shows promise for recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancers
(American Society for Radiation Oncology) A new phase II trial finds that a combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy led to encouraging survival outcomes and acceptable toxicity for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The combination of radiation and pembrolizumab may offer a new treatment option for patients who are ineligible for cisplatin chemotherapy, part of standard treatment for the disease. Findings will be presented at the 2020 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - February 27, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Drug used for breast, kidney cancers may also extend survival for head and neck cancers
(American Society for Radiation Oncology) A targeted therapy drug used for breast and kidney cancers may also extend progression-free survival for patients with advanced head and neck cancer who are at high risk for recurrence after standard treatment. Patients enrolled in a randomized phase II trial who received the mTOR inhibitor everolimus were more likely to be cancer-free a year after therapy than those who took a placebo, and the benefit persisted for those with mutations in their TP53 gene. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - February 27, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Head and neck cancer: The hidden sign in a person’s ear that should never be ignored
HEAD AND NECK cancers include cancers in the larynx, throat, lips, mouth, nose and salivary glands. Spotting the early signs of the deadly condition is vital and noticing a certain feeling in your ears could be an early warning. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Source: Daily Express - Health - February 24, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Cancer symptoms: Survivor details the little known signs of head and neck cancer
CANCER is a physically and emotionally devastating disease. One survivor wants to share his story to raise awareness and to help people become familiar with the symptoms. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Source: Daily Express - Health - February 21, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

FDA grants priority review to Roche ’s Tecentriq monotherapy as first-line treatment of certain people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Basel, 19 February 2020 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) and granted Priority Review for Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) as a first-line (initial) monotherapy for people with advanc ed non-squamous and squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR or ALK mutations with high PD-L1 expression (TC3/IC3 wild-type [WT]), as determined by PD-L1 biomarker testing. The FDA is expected to make a decision on approval by June 19, 2020.“In the IMpower110 study, Tecentriq alone demo...
Source: Roche Investor Update - February 19, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

FDA grants priority review to Roche ’s Tecentriq monotherapy as first-line treatment of certain people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Basel, 19 February 2020 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) and granted Priority Review for Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) as a first-line (initial) monotherapy for people with advanc ed non-squamous and squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without EGFR or ALK mutations with high PD-L1 expression (TC3/IC3 wild-type [WT]), as determined by PD-L1 biomarker testing. The FDA is expected to make a decision on approval by June 19, 2020.“In the IMpower110 study, Tecentriq alone demo...
Source: Roche Media News - February 19, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

FDA Grants 2 Fast Track Designations for ALX148
The FDA granted 2 Fast Track designations for ALX148 for the first-line treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and for the second-line treatment of patients with HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma. (Source: CancerNetwork)
Source: CancerNetwork - February 18, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Hannah Slater Source Type: news

China National Medical Products Administration grants approval of Roche ’s Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment of people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
Basel, 14 February 2020 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).“Small cell lung cancer is an area of major unmet need in China and one that has seen limited advances until now,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “This approval makes Tecentriq the first cancer immunotherapy available in China...
Source: Roche Investor Update - February 14, 2020 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news