New non-invasive test can help detect oral oral cancer, locate mouth & throat problems – Economic Times, The Times of India
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NEW YORK: Researchers have developed a new non-invasive method to analyze saliva for the presence of the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is associated with cancers of the mouth and throat.
The study, published in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, noted that the novel technique detected oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) in whole saliva in per cent of patients tested, and in per cent of confirmed OPC patients.
The researchers, including those fromDuke Universityin the US, said these cancers, which occur in the back of the mouth and upper throat, are often not diagnosed until they become advanced.
They said this is because their location makes it difficult to detect them during routine clinical exams.
“Considering these factors, the successful detection of HPV from salivary exosomes isolated by our acoustofluidic platform offers distinct advantages, including early detection, risk assessment, and screening,” said study co-author Tony Jun Huang .
The scientistssaid the technique may also help physicians predict which patients will respond well toradiation therapy, or achieve longer progression-free survival.
In the current study, they analyzed saliva samples from 10 patients diagnosed with HPV-OPC using traditional methods.
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