New strategies for the prevention and management of oral cancer: the crucial role of dentists and dental teams
Oral cancer is the thirteenth most common cancer worldwide  and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Patients often present with advanced disease, which is a major factor contributing to poor survival. It is now recognized that early detection and diagnosis are important in determining treatment outcomes. Dentists, therefore, have a crucial role in raising awareness, generating evidence of oral cancer and promoting preventive measures.
Traditional therapeutic approaches, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, individually or in combination, have serious risks and undesirable effects. Furthermore, they have not led to significant improvements in patient outcomes. For the oral delivery of many therapies, targeted drug delivery is currently proving to be a viable strategy. Recent research in immunotherapy and stem cell biology are showing promise in the management of a range of cancers, but this is in its infancy in the management of oral cancer. This symposium will present early research into the application of these strategies for the management of oral cancer with the prospect of improved survival and better outcomes.

Learning Objectives

 
 Prof. Manu Mathur
Oral cancer is one of the most prevalent squamous cancers and an important public health problem. It is the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancers and the treatment is complex and expensive, requiring extensive specialised care and a prolonged period of rehabilitative care, leaving prevention and control of risk factors as the most important and cost-effective strategy to manage this public health problem. The presentation will highlight the key risk factors on oral cancer from an individual up to upstream policy level, current gaps in our understanding of risk factors and the way ahead for better management of oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions.

Learning Objectives

 
Prof. Suzanne Scott
Up to half of patients diagnosed with oral cancer will have advanced disease, when prognosis is poor. This presentation will outline the reasons for advanced stage oral cancer, focusing on delays in presentation, the silent nature of early lesions, low awareness of oral cancer and barriers to seeking help for symptoms. The session will offer evidence-based solutions for the dental team to facilitate earlier diagnosis of oral cancer, including how talking to patients about oral cancer is vital.
Learning Objectives

 
 Prof. Jacques Nör
A seminal publication in 2007 unveiled the function of stem cells (also named tumor-initiating cells) in head and neck cancer. Since then, numerous laboratories from around the world have demonstrated that mutated stem cells play a major role in oral carcinogenesis, tumor progression, resistance to therapy and tumor relapse. In this presentation, we will discuss the pathobiology of oral cancer stem cells. We will also discuss the impact of oral cancer cell plasticity on resistance to treatment, and present the scientific rationale for novel therapies involving an agent that targets cancer stem cells combined with a tumor “debulking” strategy (e.g., conventional chemotherapy).

Learning Objectives