Risk of head and neck cancer among opium users

OBJECTIVE

The scientific literature presents conflicting data on a possible causal relationship between opium users and the development of head and neck cancer (HNC). This study aimed to explore the risk of HNC among opium users is a narcotic addictive drug.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis encompassed academic databases and gray literature up to May 2023, focusing on epidemiologic observational studies that reported the effect size of the HNC risk and opium use.

RESULTS

This study incorporated 14 effect size estimations to examine the association between opium use and the risk of head and neck cancers based on various HNC sub-sites, including the lip and oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The random effect model revealed a significant correlation between combined HNCs and opium use (odds ratio [OR]: 4.88; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.99, 7.96). Additionally, opium consumption significantly increased the incidence of lip and oral cavity cancers (OR: 1.82; 95 % CI: 1.25, 2.65). Opium users faced an approximately eightfold increase in laryngeal cancer risk (OR: 7.86; 95 % CI: 4.66, 13.24) compared to non-opium users.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our findings strongly suggest that opium use is emerging as a significant risk factor for HNC. This underscores the need for further research and focused preventive measures to address this concerning association.

Evaluation of Mucosamin Effect on Treating Radiation Induced Oral Mucositis during and after Radiotherapy amongst Patients with Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background:

Oral mucositis is a serious complication radiation therapy for cancer. This is a major complication during radiation therapy of the head and neck tumors in approximately all patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Mucosamin on treatment of radiation induced oral mucositis during and after radiotherapy amongst patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

In this prospective clinical trial, eligible patients who referred to radiation oncology department of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran from Jan 2018 till Jan 2019 were evaluated. The cases with confirmed pathologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity underwent 6,000 cGy radiation therapy and were randomly divided into two groups: 1- Intervention group; Mucosamin spray for 3-4 times a day (n = 40); 2 - Control group; standard medications (3 times a day) (n = 40). Oral mucositis was evaluated weekly based on RTOG scoring scale. Grade of mucositis was recorded during treatment and after radiation therapy.

Results:

A total of 80 patients were divided in two groups of Mucosamin and control. From week 3 until the end of radiotherapy (week 6) and after radiotherapy (week 8), there was a significant difference in the severity of oral mucositis between the Mucosamin and the control groups (P <0.05).

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that Mucosamin spray was able to significantly improved radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Evaluation of the Prevalence Rate and the Prognostic Effect of Human Papilloma Virus Infection in a Group of Patients With Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. A relationship between the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the prognosis of oral cavity SCC (OCSCC) has been discussed before.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the prevalence rate of HPV status in patients with OCSCC, and its effects on clinicopathological characteristics of tumors and patients' prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 114 histopathologically confirmed OCSCC cases were investigated in this study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to evaluate the HPV status in the samples.

RESULTS

Fifteen (13.16%) cases were identified as HPV positive. The detected viral subtypes in this study were the subtypes 6 and 11. The stage and especially lymph node stage was significantly higher in the HPV positive group compared to the HPV negative group (P = 0.04). Disease free survival (DFS) was remarkably lower in the HPV positive group compared to the HPV negative group (13.9 vs. 49.9 months, P = 0.02). Overall survival (OS) was also significantly inferior in the HPV positive group (15.7 vs. 49.6 months, P = 0.01). In the current study, no significant differences were observed between two groups in relation to the variables of age, gender, tumors site, tumor size, tumor grading and also the recurrence rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed higher mortality rate among the HPV positive group indicates the poorer prognosis of this group in comparison with the HPV negative patients. The incidence rate of HPV infection was low in the studied samples; however, interaction of subtypes 6 and 11 of HPV in poorer prognosis of the patients and a carcinogenic role of HPV in OCSCC cannot be ruled out.