Immunotherapy for head and neck cancer

Doctors will start treating head and neck cancer with the help of immuno-oncological drugs

The disease "head and neck cancer" was included in the list of four newly registered indications for the immuno-oncological drug Bristol-Myers Squibb.

What is this disease?

There are five main types of head and neck cancer. They are isolated according to the part of the head or neck that they affect: cancer of the larynx, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, oral cavity and oropharynx, salivary glands.

The most common type of cancer in this area is the so-called squamous cell carcinoma, which arises from the epithelial cells of the inner surface of the nose, mouth and throat.

Prevalence in Russia and the world

Every year in the world about 600 thousand patients are diagnosed with "head and neck cancer", more than half of the cases end in death. In Russia, more than 15 thousand people die from this disease a year. In 66% of cases, head and neck cancer is detected in the late stages of the disease – the third and fourth. At the same time, the vast majority of patients could have survived if the disease had been detected in a timely manner, and treatment was prescribed at an early stage.

Who is at risk?

Cancer of the head and neck occurs in men twice as often as in women. Tobacco and alcohol are the main provoking factors. Smoking increases the risk of developing cancer by 15 times. For example, the place on the lip where the smoker most often holds a cigarette or chewing tobacco may be affected.

Certain types of HPV (human papillomavirus) are another provoking factor in the development of head and neck cancer. In particular, more than half of cases of tonsil cancer are associated with the presence of HPV.

Symptoms of head and neck cancer

The symptoms of head and neck cancer can be quite blurry. Warning signs include hoarseness, sore throat or ear that does not go away for more than four weeks, as well as non-healing wounds in the mouth or a feeling of a coma in the throat. The presence of any of these symptoms is a sufficient reason to consult a doctor.

How to detect head and neck cancer?

To determine the cause of symptoms in the head and neck, the doctor evaluates the medical history, conducts a physical examination and diagnostic tests. Procedures may vary depending on the symptoms, however, to confirm the diagnosis of "cancer", it is always necessary to examine a tissue sample under a microscope.

In the USA, a new case of head and neck cancer is detected every 10 minutes, every 45 minutes someone dies from this disease.

Breakthrough in treatment

Until recently, surgery and radiation therapy remained the most common methods of treatment. In the later stages of the disease, chemotherapy was added to these methods.

Just a few months ago, Russian patients with head and neck cancer had new treatment options. This was facilitated by developments in the field of immuno-oncology, which is called the most outstanding achievement in the treatment of cancer over the past few years. Unlike previous methods of treatment, immuno-oncological drugs do not affect cancer cells, but the cells of the patient's immune system, directing them to fight cancer. Thus, the body begins to fight the tumor on its own with the help of the immune system, as with any other foreign cell.

In December 2017, the disease "head and neck cancer" was included in the list of four newly registered indications for the immuno-oncological drug Bristol-Myers Squibb. Now there is hope for patients for whom traditional therapy has proved ineffective.

According to experts, provided timely diagnosis, innovative methods of head and neck cancer therapy can transfer this group of diseases from the category of fatal to chronic, enabling the patient to live a long life. At the same time, experts note that in order to effectively combat cancer, it is necessary to partner with public organizations that are actively working to raise awareness about oncological diseases, defend the rights of patients to receive medical care, provide psychological support to patients, as well as their relatives and friends.

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