Tufts Symposium Speaker Topics
Brian Hill :
The Changing Demographics of the Oral Cancer Population in the US.
Historic demographics related to oral cancer incidence are no longer valid. We need to understand the new etiologies that are bringing patients to OC, that are completely different than these historic norms. The most important of these is the human papillomavirus16. In order to determine who is at risk, who needs to be screened in your practice, and to catch this disease at early highly survivable stages, understanding this paradigm shift in the population of OC patients is vital. Visual and tactile screenings continue to be the basis of early discovery. But are these still adequate? Are adjunctive devices helpful or not? If so which ones? Answers to these questions will provide you with information that allows you to provide the optimum care to your patient populations.
Dr. Mark Lingen:
Oral Cancer: New Technologies for Early Detection and Prevention
Discuss the potential utility of the currently available oral cancer screening aids
Introduce developing technologies that allow for the molecular diagnosis of premalignant lesions
Discuss the major chemopreventive initiatives that are being tested in world-wide clinical trials
Emphasize the role of dental health care professionals in early detection and chemoprevention measures for oral cancer
Dr. Brad Rodu:
Tobacco Harm Reduction: An Alternative Approach to Smoking Control
The failure of conventional smoking cessation programs that emphasize nicotine and tobacco abstinence.
The differential health risks of smoking and smokeless tobacco use.
The health effects of nicotine.
The underlying scientific foundation for tobacco harm reduction.
Patterns of tobacco use in Sweden, and their impact on public health.
The growing discussion of tobacco harm reduction among tobacco research and policy experts.
Dr. David Wong:
Saliva Detection for Oral Cancer
Saliva as a diagnostic tool
Saliva diagnostic alphabets: the proteome and transcriptome
Point-of-care biosensor technology
Application for oral cancer detection