There seems to be an international epidemic of tonsil cancer, mainly in men, from the hpv virus, which has now also come to our country. These tumors may have a good prognosis especially in non-smokers, however epidemiological data and analyzes of randomized trials show that smoking worsens the prognosis of these patients. That is, relapses and metastases occur more often, especially patients who smoke during radiation therapy. The highlights belong to the Professor of Pathology Oncology Director of the Second Pre-Educational Pathology Clinic at “Atticon” Amanda Psirri, who spoke about this topic at this year’s annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) held in Chicago, at the beginning of June.

Smoking during radiotherapy reduces the chance of survival by 50%

In an interview granted to the Fm Agency, Ms. Psirri explains that patients who continue to smoke during radiation have a 50% lower chance of surviving the disease, compared to patients who stop smoking before starting radiation therapy. Therefore, oncologists should explain in detail to patients the need to stop smoking, before the start of radiation therapy, emphasizes Ms. Psirri, to then point out that the average age of development of this cancer is 50 years. “Which means these patients are 10 years younger than patients who get tonsil cancer because of smoking. However, we also see cases of younger people, even 35-year-old non-smokers, who develop tonsil cancer from HPV.”

Pills to prevent relapse in brain, lung and breast cancers

Precision medicine and patients’ quality of life were the benchmarks of this year’s ASCO, the most important oncology conference, where the world’s oncology community gathered to present all the latest developments in cancer treatments. As it turned out, molecular therapies are gaining ground, especially in difficult cancers, such as lung and gliomas, as new data were presented on pills taken after surgery to prevent recurrence. According to the distinguished oncologist, developments in genetic and molecular biology have shown that tumors are characterized by specific molecular signatures, that is, by certain molecules that promote tumor growth and metastasis. “A study was presented at the conference on low-grade gliomas that often affect young adults and even teenagers, but which over time can develop into very aggressive forms. In this group of patients who often relapse, after surgery we give radiation therapy, which has very adverse side effects on their quality of life and brain function. These patients were randomized to receive a new drug that targets the mutation these tumors had, or a placebo. Patients in the drug group survived more than 2 years without needing further radiation, chemotherapy, or other toxic treatments, while those in the placebo group relapsed at eleven months. The study was published and this pill will be approved.” At the same conference, according to the professor, a pill for lung cancer was also announced. “Patients who were operated on for non-small cell lung cancer and have a particular mutation took the pill for 3 years, and they appeared to have significantly lower recurrence rates and longer survival rates. So this pill reduced deaths from the disease. Therefore, patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and especially adenocarcinoma, must be checked for this particular mutation and, if they carry it, take the pill as a preventive measure, because this way lives are saved.” Regarding breast cancer, Mrs. Psirri reports that some drugs with the same mechanism have been presented, which target some molecular pathways and significantly reduce recurrence rates, after surgery, in combination with hormone therapy. “And in metastatic breast cancer, new molecular therapies have been presented, where new inhibitors, oral drugs that prolong the disease-free survival of these patients enter the therapeutic quiver.”