Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Clin Cancer Res 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Program), University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

A mounting body of evidence now indicates that PARP inhibitors have the potential to be used as a foundation for both monotherapy and combination strategies across a wide spectrum of molecular backgrounds and tumor types. While PARP inhibitors as a class display many similarities, critical differences in structure can translate into differences in tolerability and antitumor activity that have important implications for the clinic. Furthermore, while PARP inhibitors have demonstrated a clear role in treating tumors with underlying homologous recombination deficiencies, there is now biological and early clinical evidence to support their use in other molecular subsets of cancer, including tumors associated with high levels of replication stress such as small cell lung cancer. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Nov 10;40(11):2347-2352. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: The purpose of our article was to describe a tertiary center's experience with patients with primarily surgically treated early-stage intraoral cancer with a second primary malignancy confirmed during follow-up.

Methods: A total of 183 patients were primarily surgically treated for oral cancer between 2000 and 2004. Among these, 24 patients (13. Read More

Curr Top Med Chem 2018 ;18(3):182-191

National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Mississippi, United States.

Enthusiasm for the use of dietary bioactive compounds as chemopreventive agents and adjuvants for current therapies has increased laboratory research conducted on several types of cancers including Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). The green chemoprevention movement is a modern approach to highlight healthy lifestyle changes that aim to decrease the incidence of HNSCC. A healthy diet can be an effective way to prevent the development of oral cancers. Read More

Genome Biol 2017 Dec 20;18(1):237. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute, "Regina Elena", 00144, Rome, Italy.

Background: Circular RNAs are a class of endogenous RNAs with various functions in eukaryotic cells. Worthy of note, circular RNAs play a critical role in cancer. Currently, nothing is known about their role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2017 Dec 1;96:1465-1477. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Department of Chemical Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Over 90% of all breast cancer cases are of different 'sporadic' cell types, thus placing emphasis on the need for breast cancer prevention and new effective treatment strategies. In recent years, pre-clinical research provides growing evidence regarding the beneficial action of bioactive plant-derived substances - phytochemicals, on multiple cancer-related biological pathways. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2017 Jul;23(28):5051-5067

Chidi Amadi, Piers Gatenby, Regional Oesophagogastric Unit, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford GU2 7XX, United Kingdom.

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is rapidly increasing in Western countries. This tumour frequently presents late in its course with metastatic disease and has a very poor prognosis. Barrett's oesophagus is an acquired condition whereby the native squamous mucosa of the lower oesophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium following prolonged gastro-oesophageal reflux and is the recognised precursor lesion for oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2018 Mar 12;440(1-2):11-22. Epub 2017 Aug 12.

Cancer Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625 021, India.

Over the decades, the survival rates for oral cancer have not improved despite development in novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the chemopreventive potential of parthenolide in DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. The hamsters were divided into 4 groups (n = 6/group). Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017 10 11;157(4):580-588. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA.

Objective To determine the optimal duration and type of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing clean-contaminated resection for head and neck cancer. Data Sources Search strategies were created by a medical librarian, implemented in multiple databases, and completed in June 2016. Review Methods The population of interest was adults ≥18 years undergoing clean-contaminated head and neck surgery, intervention was postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, comparator was duration and types of antibiotics used, outcome was the wound infection rate, and the study design was randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Read More

J Biomed Sci 2017 Mar 3;24(1):19. Epub 2017 Mar 3.

Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, CCSR Building, Rm. 3140, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.

The occurrence of more than 200 diseases, including cancer, can be attributed to alcohol drinking. The global cancer deaths attributed to alcohol-consumption rose from 243,000 in 1990 to 337,400 in 2010. In 2010, cancer deaths due to alcohol consumption accounted for 4. Read More

Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst 2016 ;33(4):363-400

Department of Pharmaceutics, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral cancer; it involves damage to oral epithelial cells due to accumulation of multiple genetic mutations in the cells. OSCC remains major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with head and neck cancers. Tobacco, smoking, alcohol consumption alone or with chewing tobacco, and betel quid are potential carcinogens contributing to the high occurrence of OSCC. Read More

Free Radic Res 2016 Oct 19;50(10):1071-1079. Epub 2016 May 19.

a Digestive Disease Center , CHA University Bundang Medical Center , Seongnam , Korea.

The incidence of reflux esophagitis increases in world, affecting approximately 20% of Western populations and its consequent lesion, Barrett's esophagus (BE), established as the primary precursor lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) or Barrett associated adenocarcinoma (BAA), is also increasing in incidence in Asian countries as well as Western countries. The fact that surveillance strategies have not had a major benefit in decreasing the incidence of EAC increased attention to arrest or delay the progression of BE to EAC. Since sustained inflammation and consequent oxidative stress plays core pathogenic role in reflux esophagitis, BE, and BAA, attention paid to anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agents in the treatment of reflux esophagitis. Read More

Nat Commun 2016 08 30;7:12601. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC) comprises 15-20% of all skin cancers, accounting for over 700,000 cases in USA annually. Most cuSCC arise in association with a distinct precancerous lesion, the actinic keratosis (AK). To identify potential targets for molecularly targeted chemoprevention, here we perform integrated cross-species genomic analysis of cuSCC development through the preneoplastic AK stage using matched human samples and a solar ultraviolet radiation-driven Hairless mouse model. Read More

Future Oncol 2016 Oct 22;12(20):2379-86. Epub 2016 Jun 22.

Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 432, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas represent a significant cancer burden worldwide. Unfortunately, chemoprevention strategies investigated to date have failed to produce an agent considered standard of care to prevent oral cancers. Nonetheless, recent advances in clinical trial design may streamline drug development in this setting. Read More

Fam Cancer 2016 07;15(3):477-85

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USA.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary condition with a near 100 % lifetime risk of colorectal cancer without prophylactic colectomy. Most patients with FAP have a mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene on chromosome 5q22. This condition frequently presents in children with polyps developing most frequently in the second decade of life and surveillance colonoscopy is required starting at age ten. Read More

Semin Oncol 2016 Feb 15;43(1):78-85. Epub 2015 Dec 15.

Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA.

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a debilitating and highly lethal malignancy, has risen dramatically over the past 40 years in the United States and other Western countries. To reverse this trend, EAC prevention and early detection efforts by clinicians, academic researchers and endoscope manufacturers have targeted Barrett's esophagus (BE), the widely accepted EAC precursor lesion. Data from surgical, endoscopic and pre-clinical investigations strongly support the malignant potential of BE. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2015 Dec 11;29(6):855-67. Epub 2015 Sep 11.

CHA Cancer Prevention Research Center, CHA University, CHA Bio Complex, Seongnam, Republic of Korea; Digestive Disease Center, CHA University Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

"War on cancer" was declared through the National Cancer Act by President Richard Nixon in 1971, but cancer statistics from the American Cancer Society and other sources indicated the failure of this war, suggesting instead focus on the message that a "prevention strategy" might be much more effective than cancer treatment. While cancer statistics notoriously showed sharp increases in incidence as well as in mortality concurrent with economic growth in Asia, fortunately Asian countries benefit from plentiful resources of natural compounds, which can prevent cancer. Just like cancer chemotherapeutics targeted to kill cancer cells in Western countries, natural agents activating molecular mechanisms for cancer prevention, reversion of premalignant tumors, and even ablation of cancer stem cells, are very abundant in Asia. Read More

Surg Clin North Am 2015 Jun;95(3):593-604

Division of General Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address:

Although there are many unanswered questions with Barrett esophagus, we can safely say that the incidence is increasing, chemoprevention strategies for the prevention of Barrett metaplasia and its progression to adenocarcinoma may be in the offing, surveillance should be considered for all patients who are discovered to have Barrett esophagus, RFA is the treatment of choice for those with HGD and strongly considered in those with LGD, EMR should be the treatment of choice for patients with nodular high-grade Barrett esophagus, and, finally, vagal-sparing esophagectomy reserved for patients with persistent HGD or a strong suspicion of carcinoma, with consideration of a concomitant fundoplication. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2015 Jul 5;153(1):60-8. Epub 2015 May 5.

Center for Health and the Social Sciences, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA Hospital Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Objective: To assess hospital- and physician-level variation in pattern of perioperative antibiotic use for laryngectomy and the relationship between pattern of antibiotic use and surgical site infection (SSI), wound dehiscence, and antibiotic-induced complications.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of University HealthSystem Consortium data.

Setting: Academic medical centers and affiliated hospitals. Read More

Oral Oncol 2015 Jun 25;51(6):565-9. Epub 2015 Mar 25.

MGV KBH Dental College, Nashik, India. Electronic address:

STATs can be activated independently of JAKs, most notably by c-Src kinases. In cancer cells, STAT3 and STAT5 activation leads to the increased expression of downstream target genes, leading to increased cell proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis, and immune system evasion. STAT3 and STAT5 are expressed and activated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma where they contribute to cell survival and proliferation. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2015 Feb 29;29(1):151-65. Epub 2014 Dec 29.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Increasing incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma along with poor survival entails novel preventive strategies. Agents that target pro-oncogenic pathways in Barrett's mucosa could halt this neoplastic transformation. In this review, we will use epidemiological associations and molecular mechanisms to identify novel chemoprevention targets in Barrett's oesophagus. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2015 ;815:333-48

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) accounts for around 6% of all cancers in the USA. Few of the greatest obstacles in HNSCC include development of secondary primary tumor, resistance and toxicity associated with the conventional treatments, together decreasing the overall 5-year survival rate in HNSCC patients to ≤50%. Radiation and chemotherapy are the conventional treatment options available for HNSCC patients at both early and late stage of this cancer type malignancy. Read More

Oral Oncol 2014 Dec 16;50(12):1123-30. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

BC Cancer Research Centre, Department of Cancer Control Research, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address:

Worldwide, oral cancer is responsible for 170,000 deaths per year. Intervention to prevent this disease is a long sought after goal. Chemoprevention studies have focused on clinicopathological features of potentially malignant lesions (PML) in an effort to prevent their progression to cancer. Read More

Int J Surg 2014 1;12(9):931-5. Epub 2014 Aug 1.

Department of Oesophagogastric Surgery, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.

The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased by 500% over the past 30 years [1]. Improved understanding of the mechanisms of neoplastic progression provides an opportunity to reverse this trend. A thorough review of emerging strategies aiming to prevent the formation of oesophageal malignancy is presented. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2014 Jun 3;59(6):1222-30. Epub 2014 May 3.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA,

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may reduce the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with Barrett's esophagus. PPIs are prescribed for virtually all patients with Barrett's esophagus, irrespective of the presence of reflux symptoms, and represent a de facto chemopreventive agent in this population. However, long-term PPI use has been associated with several adverse effects, and the cost-effectiveness of chemoprevention with PPIs has not been evaluated. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015 Jan 26;13(1):84-90. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Institute for Technology Assessment, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic intervention or pharmacologic inhibition of cyclooxygenase might be used to prevent progression of Barrett's esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We investigated whether patients with BE prefer endoscopic therapy or chemoprevention of EAC.

Methods: Eighty-one subjects with nondysplastic BE were given a survey that described 2 scenarios. Read More

Res Vet Sci 2014 Jun 20;96(3):482-6. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea. Electronic address:

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a potential target for chemoprevention and cancer therapy. Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, inhibits cell growth of various types of human cancer including malignant melanoma. In dogs, oral malignant melanoma represents the most common oral tumor and is often a fatal disease. Read More

Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2014 Mar 17;7(3):279-82. Epub 2014 Jan 17.

Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Yawkey 7B, Boston, MA 02114.

The prospects for chemoprevention to reduce the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are great. The tissue at risk for harboring disease is relatively accessible for examination and biopsy. Patients appropriate for study can be easily identified by their risk factors and the presence of premalignant lesions. Read More

Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2014 Mar 31;7(3):341-50. Epub 2013 Dec 31.

Massachusetts General Hospital, 101 Merrimac Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02114.

Data suggest that aspirin, statins, or a combination of the two drugs may lower the progression of Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, aspirin is associated with potential complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke, and statins are associated with myopathy. We developed a simulation disease model to study the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of aspirin and statin chemoprevention against esophageal adenocarcinoma. Read More

ScientificWorldJournal 2013 1;2013:618032. Epub 2013 Aug 1.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chi Mei Hospital, Liouying 736, Taiwan.

Betel quid (BQ) products, with or without tobacco, have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as group I human carcinogens that are associated with an elevated risk of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx. There are estimated 600 million BQ users worldwide. In Taiwan alone there are 2 million habitual users (approximately 10% of the population). Read More

CA Cancer J Clin 2013 Jul-Aug;63(4):232-48

Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is characterized by 6 striking features: increasing incidence, male predominance, lack of preventive measures, opportunities for early detection, demanding surgical therapy and care, and poor prognosis. Reasons for its rapidly increasing incidence include the rising prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux and obesity, combined with the decreasing prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. The strong male predominance remains unexplained, but hormonal influence might play an important role. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2013 Sep 9;29(9):1055-65. Epub 2013 Jul 9.

University of Connecticut, Internal Medicine, Hartford, CT 06103, USA.

Background: Development of a second primary malignancy (SPM) after an index esophageal cancer is fairly rare, primarily due to decreased survival in patients with esophageal cancer. However, with advances in early detection and therapy, the number of long-term survivors is increasing, as is the incidence of SPMs in this population.

Scope: We review herein the published literature on the incidence of SPMs after an index esophageal cancer as well as its associated risk factors, prognosis and surveillance. Read More

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2013 Apr;22(4):540-52

National Cancer Institute, NIH, EPS, 6120 Executive Blvd, Rm 7006, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for 80% of all esophageal cancers worldwide, and esophageal squamous dysplasia (ESD) is the only histopathology that predicts the development of ESCC. The prevalence of ESD parallels rates of invasive ESCC and is typically found in 25% or more of adults above the age of 35 years in populations in north central China, where risk for ESCC is among the highest in the world. Results of chemoprevention and early detection studies to prevent progression of ESD suggest that these approaches, coupled with emerging endoscopic therapies, offer promise for the prevention of esophageal cancer mortality in high-risk populations. Read More

Eur J Dent 2013 Apr;7(2):246-50

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, VSPM'S Dental College and Research Center, Digdoh Hills, Hingana Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.

The word chemoprevention includes prevention of initiation, promotion, and progression of carcinogenesis to cancer. This article is an attempt to review the dietary chemopreventive agents and their mode of action in chemoprevention of oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer using a systematic approach. Selected chemoprevention trials are discussed with a focus on strategies of trial design and clinical outcome. Read More

Carcinogenesis 2013 Mar 7;34(3):570-6. Epub 2012 Dec 7.

Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.

Upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus are a significant global health burden, and there is an urgent need to develop relevant animal models to identify chemopreventive and therapeutic strategies to combat these diseases. Antizyme (AZ) is a multifunctional negative regulator of cellular polyamine levels, and here, we evaluate the susceptibility of keratin 5 (K5)-AZ transgenic mice to tumor models that combine chemical carcinogenesis with dietary and genetic risk factors known to influence human susceptibility to UADT cancer and promote UADT carcinogenesis in mice. First, p53(+/-) and K5-AZ/p53(+/-) (AZ/p53(+/-)) mice were placed on a zinc-deficient (ZD) or zinc-sufficient (ZS) diet and chronically exposed to 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. Read More

Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2012 Nov;20(4):515-23

Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Dumlupinar University, DPU Merkez Kampus, Kutahya 43270, Turkey.

The importance and effectiveness of prevention efforts and strategies for skin cancers are reviewed. Topical sunscreens and their proper use are presented. Topical and ingested forms of natural, synthetic, or biologic chemical agents that are potentially efficacious for chemoprevention are listtdldted and discussed. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2013 Feb 11;54(1):64-8. Epub 2012 Jul 11.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.

Multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are a significant cause of morbidity and disfigurement in patients with naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). Chemopreventive strategies are needed to reduce the formation of new BCC in these patients. Appropriate evidence-based guidelines for photodynamic therapy chemoprevention in NBCCS do not exist. Read More

PLoS One 2012 4;7(6):e38047. Epub 2012 Jun 4.

Department of Medicine, NorthShore University Healthsystem, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality underscoring the need for safe and effective chemopreventive strategies. Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is attractive in that it is an early critical event in HNSCC pathogenesis. However, current agents lack efficacy or have unacceptable toxicity. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2012 Apr;26(2):197-206

Department of Emergency Medicine, Balmoral Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, London, UK.

Despite modern advances in cancer research, screening and treatment options, gastrointestinal tumours remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Both oesophageal and colorectal malignancies carry high rates of morbidity and mortality, presenting a challenge to clinicians in search of effective management strategies. In recent years, the increasing burden of disease has led to a paradigm shift in our approach from treatment to prevention. Read More

Rev Recent Clin Trials 2012 Aug;7(3):249-54

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Boston, MA 02118, USA.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common malignancies and has significant mortality. Its multi-step cumulative features strongly support early management. Cancer chemoprevention has been accepted as a promising intervention for early management, and has made enormous progresses over the past 30 years due to the large number of research studies including many randomized clinical trials. Read More

Cancer Lett 2012 Dec 28;327(1-2):16-25. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile.

Cancer is a multistage process where each stage involves different molecular, biochemical and cellular events all of which, however, contribute to malignant transformation. Over the last years, substantial scientific evidence has promoted the hypothesis that ROS-induced cellular damage underlies key steps during development of the malignant phenotype including evasion of apoptosis, limitless proliferation, angiogenesis, tissue invasion and metastasis, etc. On the other hand, natural products hold great promise as anti-cancer compounds in preventing against carcinogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Mol Pharm 2012 Apr 6;9(4):937-45. Epub 2012 Mar 6.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

The objective of this study was to enhance oral mucosal permeation of fenretinide by coincorporation of propylene glycol (PG) and menthol in fenretinide/Eudragit RL PO mucoadhesive patches. Fenretinide is an extremely hydrophobic chemopreventive compound with poor tissue permeability. Coincorporation of 5-10 wt % PG (mean J(s) = 16-23 μg cm⁻² h⁻¹; 158-171 μg of fenretinide/g of tissue) or 1-10 wt % PG + 5 wt % menthol (mean J(s) = 18-40 μg cm⁻² h⁻¹; 172-241 μg of fenretinide/g of tissue) in fenretinide/Eudragit RL PO patches led to significant ex vivo fenretinide permeation enhancement (p < 0. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2011 Aug;25(4-5):569-79

Department of Digestive Diseases, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester, UK.

Barrett's oesophagus normally affects the distal oesophagus when metaplastic columnar lined epithelium replaces stratified squamous epithelium which predisposes to cancer development. This develops as a consequence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux (GORD). Those with Barrett's have a 40 fold increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma [1]. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2011 Sep;92(3):1056-60; discussion 1060-1

Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.

Background: Although a common clinical pairing, the epidemiology and prognosis of lung cancer (LC) after head and neck cancer (HNC) is not well described.

Methods: Data from the database of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were used to study the epidemiology and survival of patients with LC after HNC. These data were compared with those from our institutional cancer registry. Read More

Recent Results Cancer Res 2011 ;185:149-57

Cranfield Health, Gloucestershire Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL13NN, UK.

The prevention and chemoprevention of cancer is based on identifying a pre-neoplastic lesion and altering the outcome by early intervention. Many of the gastrointestinal epithelial cancers are related to chronic inflammatory conditions for many years prior to cancer development. It is clear that treatment of the inflammatory condition can prevent and indeed reverse changes that predispose to cancer. Read More

Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2011 May;4(5):666-73

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States, with a low 5-year survival rate despite improved treatment strategies. These data underscore the great need for effective chemoprevention of this cancer. Mutations and activation of KRAS occur frequently in, and are thought to be a primary driver of the development of, non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) of the adenocarcinoma subtype. Read More

J Oncol 2011 2;2011:540148. Epub 2011 Jan 2.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Kyushu Koseinenkin Hospital, 2-1-1, Kishinoura, Nishiku, Kitakyushu 806-8501, Japan.

Over the past decade dose-intensified chemo-radiotherapy or molecular targeted therapy has been introduced into the treatments of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to improve the outcomes of this dismal disease. However, these strategies have revealed only limited efficacy so far. Moreover, the frequent occurrences of second primary tumor further worsen the prognosis of patients. Read More

Nutr Cancer 2010 ;62(7):973-87

Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. Despite advances in the management of HNSCC, the overall survival for patients has not improved significantly due to advanced stages at diagnosis, high recurrence rate after surgical removal, and second primary tumor development, which underscore the importance of novel strategies for cancer prevention. Cancer chemoprevention, the use of natural or synthetic compounds to prevent, arrest, or reverse the process of carcinogenesis at its earliest stages, aims to reverse premalignancies and prevent second primary tumors. Read More

Histol Histopathol 2010 08;25(8):1093-104

Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University Hospital of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Cancers of the head and neck are among the most common neoplasms worldwide, characterized by local tumor aggressiveness, high rate of early recurrence, development of metastasis and second primary tumors. Although disease management of head and neck cancer has improved significantly, overall survival-rates remained largely unchanged over the last decades. Thus, in addition to modern chemo-radiation treatment strategies combined with sophisticated surgery, there is still a need for molecular markers and key regulatory factors exploitable for chemoprevention and targeted therapies. Read More

Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2010 Feb 26;3(2):148-59. Epub 2010 Jan 26.

Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Non-small cell lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related death in Western countries. One important approach taken to address this problem is the development of effective chemoprevention strategies. In this study, we examined whether the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib, as evidenced by decreased cell proliferation, is biologically active in the bronchial epithelium of current and former smokers. Read More

Dig Dis 2009 8;27(1):18-23. Epub 2009 May 8.

Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is established as the primary precursor lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The risk of esophageal cancer is 30-125 times greater compared to an age-matched population and survival rates are low, with only 15% of patients being alive 5 years after initial diagnosis. Therefore, surveillance strategies in BE are recommended to detect intraepithelial neoplasia and early carcinoma which in turn can be resected using endoscopic methods. Read More