06.05.2008 at 08:00
- Category:
Cancer and Oncology
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. researchers said people with both periodontitis and human papillomavirus (HPV) have an increased risk of developing tongue cancer.
The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine said the two infections appear to work together in increasing cancer risk, the university said Friday in a release.
Previous studies had found HPV and periodontitis were independent risk factors for tongue cancer.
Dr. Mine Tezal -- assistant professor in the UB dental school and research scientist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute -- presented the findings Friday at the 2008 American Association of Dental research meeting in Dallas.
"Evidence of periodontitis-HPV synergy has important practical implications," said Tezal, "because there is a safe treatment for periodontitis, but no treatment for HPV infection."
The study involved 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma on the base of the tongue. The study found that 90 percent of patients with HPV-positive tumors had periodontitis, and 79 percent of patients whose tumors showed no presence of HPV did not have periodontitis.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
