Bay Biosciences provides high-quality, FFPE tissue samples with matched sera (serum), EDTA plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC’s), bio-fluids from throat cancer patients for research.
The sera (serum) and plasma bio-fluid specimens are processed from throat cancer patients peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Throat Cancer Overview
Throat cancer can develop in the larynx, vocal cords, tonsils, or pharynx. These cancers can be more common in people exposed to certain carcinogens, including cigarette smoke and asbestos.
Cancer is a class of diseases in which abnormal cells multiply and divide uncontrollably in the body. These cells form malignant, or cancerous, growths called tumors.
Throat cancer refers to the following type of cancers:
- Gullet (esophagus)
- Voice box (larynx)
- Windpipe (trachea)
Doctors do not usually use the term “throat cancer.” Instead, they refer to the particular area in which the cancer appears.
Definition of Throat Cancer
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) refers to these cancers as:
- Laryngeal cancer
- Pharyngeal cancer, often grouped with oral cavity cancer as oropharyngeal cancer
Throat cancer is relatively uncommon compared with other cancers.
Prevalence of Throat Cancer
According to the NCI, oropharyngeal cancer accounts for 2.8% of all cancer cases and 1.9% of all deaths from cancer in the United States. In the larger population, the chance of having one of these cancers is around 1.2%.
Laryngeal cancer accounts for around 0.6% of new cancer cases and 0.6% of cancer deaths in the United States according to the NCI, . Around 0.3% of people will develop this type of cancer at some time.
Types of Throat Cancer
Treatment plan and outlook for someone with cancer depends on the type of cancer. A biopsy can show what type of cancer cell is present.
The most common type of throat cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. It affects the flat cells lining the throat.
Following are the two main categories of throat cancer:
Pharyngeal Cancer
This cancer develops in the pharynx, the hollow tube that runs from behind your nose to the top of your windpipe.
Pharyngeal cancers that develop in the neck and throat include:
- Nasopharynx cancer: upper part of the throat
- Oropharynx cancer: middle part of the throat
- Hypopharynx cancer: bottom part of the throat
Laryngeal Cancer
This cancer forms in the larynx, which is your voice box. Cancer can develop in the:
- Supraglottis: part of the larynx above the vocal cords
- Glottis: part of the larynx around the vocal cords
- Subglottis: part of the larynx below the vocal cords
Signs and Symptoms of Throat Cancer
Common signs and symptoms of cancers that occur in the throat include:
- A constant need to clear your throat
- Change in your voice
- Ear pain
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Hoarseness
- Sore throat
- Persistent cough, possibly with blood
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Wheezing
- Weight Loss
You should make a doctor’s appointment if any of these symptoms develop and do not go away.
Risk Factors of Throat Cancer
The risk factors for throat cancer depend on the type.
Following are some general factors that may increase the risk of developing oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer:
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
- Chewing betel quid and gutka (in the case of oropharyngeal cancer)
- Exposure to asbestos (in the case of laryngeal cancer)
- Fanconi anemia Fanconi anemia or dyskeratosis congenita, which are inherited genetic syndromes
- High alcohol consumption
- A high body weight
- Smoking
- Older age, as these cancers mostly occur after age 50 years
- Possibly poor oral hygiene
- Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV)
Causes of Throat Cancer
Smoking and Alcohol
Individuals who smoke and drink a lot are around 30 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not. They’re also much more likely to develop laryngeal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Oral HPV
Oral HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that affects around 10% of males and 3.6% of females, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC adds that HPV may account for around 70% of cases of oropharyngeal cancer in the United States.
Being Male
Males are more likely to develop oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancers than females. While the overall rate is higher among white people, it’s significantly higher for Black males compared with all females and with males from other races, according to statistics published by the NCI.
A 2014 study notes the difference in survival rates for laryngeal cancer between Black and white American males increased rather than decreased between 1975 and 2002.
Study authors suggest that socioeconomic factors, a later stage at diagnosis, and less access to appropriate treatment could be the reasons.
Prevention of Throat Cancer
It’s not always possible to prevent throat cancer, but you can take steps to reduce your risk:
- Avoid or quit smoking and tobacco use
- Consume a nutrient-rich diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and limits the intake of added fats, sugars, and highly processed foods
- Get regular physical activity
- Monitor your alcohol intake and reduce it to moderate levels if needed
According to the NCI, alcohol use and smoking combine to form the biggest risk factor for developing these cancers.
Diagnosis of Throat Cancer
At your doctor’s appointment, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history.
If symptoms such as a sore throat, hoarseness, and persistent cough are not improving and don’t have an explanation, your doctor may suspect cancer in some part of the throat.
Physical Exam
To check for throat cancer, your doctor can perform a laryngoscopy. They may refer you to a specialist for a panendoscopy.
A laryngoscopy gives your doctor a closer view of the larynx. They may use special mirrors to see these areas or insert an endoscope into your throat for a clearer view. An endoscope is a thin tube with a camera at the end.
Panendoscopy
A panendoscopy allows the specialist to see the larynx, esophagus, mouth, nasal cavity, and possibly the lungs at one time.
If cancer is present in one location, it can also occur in other areas prone to the same risk factors, such as smoking. The specialist can then order a tissue sample, called a biopsy, for testing.
They can also order imaging tests, such as an X-ray, CT Scan, MRI scan, or ultrasound, to help get a correct diagnosis.
Blood tests cannot show if cancer is present in the mouth or throat, but they can help assess your overall health.
Barium Swallow
If your doctor needs more detail about your esophagus, you may need to have an X-ray after drinking a chalky liquid called a barium swallow. The barium swallow helps show any problems with the esophagus on an X-ray.
A bone scan can show whether cancer has spread to the bones.
Staging of Throat Cancer
If your doctor finds cancerous cells in your throat, they will order additional tests to identify the stage, or the extent, of your cancer.
The most basic way of staging cancers in the throat involves a number system, ranging from 0–4:
- Stage-0: The tumor is only on the top layer of cells of the affected part of the throat.
- Stage-1: The tumor is limited to the part of the throat where it started.
- Stage-2: The tumor has grown into a nearby area.
- Stage-3: The tumor has grown into other structures in the throat or spread to one lymph node.
- Stage-4: The tumor has spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs.
TNM Staging
To work out the stage, your doctor considers:
- The tumor size (T)
- Lymph node involvement (N)
- Whether any cells have spread to other parts of the body, known as metastasis (M)
Together, these are known as the TNM staging system. The diagnosis depends on how these factors combine.
Cancer staging is a complex process. If you receive a diagnosis, your doctor considers the stage, grade, and individual factors to prepare your treatment plan.
Treatment of Throat Cancer
A number of specialists will be involved in your diagnosis and treatment, such as:
- a medical oncologist, who uses chemotherapy to treat tumors
- Surgical oncologist or an otolaryngologist, who performs surgical procedures like the removal of tumors
- A radiation oncologist or a radiologist, who treats your cancer using radiation therapy
- Pathologist, who examines tissue samples from your biopsy
- An anesthesiologist, who administers anesthesia and monitors your condition during a biopsy or surgery
- Psychologist, if needed
Treatment options for throat cancer include:
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
The treatment method your doctor recommends depends on the cancer stage and other factors.
Surgery
If the tumor in your throat is small, your doctor may surgically remove the tumor. This surgery is done in the hospital while you’re under sedation.
Your doctor may recommend one of the following surgical procedures:
- Endoscopic surgery: A surgeon uses an endoscope to pass surgical instruments or lasers to treat early stage cancers. An endoscope is a long, thin tube with a light and camera at the end.
- Cordectomy: This procedure removes all or part of your vocal cords.
- Laryngectomy: This procedure removes all or a portion of your voice box, depending on the severity of the cancer. Some people can speak after surgery, but others need to learn how to speak without a voice box.
- Pharyngectomy: This procedure removes a part of your throat.
- Neck dissection: If throat cancer spreads within the neck, your doctor may remove some of your lymph nodes.
Radiation Therapy
Following the removal of the tumor, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It targets any cancerous cells the tumor has left behind.
Types of radiation therapy include:
- Intensity-modulated radiotherapy and 3D-conformal radiation therapy: In both types of treatment, radiation beams are tailored to the tumor’s shape. This is the most common way of giving radiation for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.
- Brachytherapy: A specialist places radioactive seeds directly inside the tumor or close to the tumor. Although this type of radiation could be used for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, it rarely is.
Chemotherapy
In the case of large tumors and tumors that have spread to the lymph nodes and other organs or tissue, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy as well as radiation.
Chemotherapy is a drug that kills and slows the growth of cancer cells.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapies are drugs that stop the spread and growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific molecules responsible for tumor growth. One type of targeted therapy used to treat throat cancer is cetuximab (Erbitux).
Experts are researching other types of targeted therapy. Your doctor may recommend this therapy along with standard chemotherapy and radiation, possibly as part of a clinical trial.
Immunotherapy
This treatment involves drugs that enable your own immune system to fight cancer. The drugs are called checkpoint inhibitors.
Usually, the immune system uses cells called checkpoints to turn on an immune response when the body needs it. Cancers, however, sometimes use these checkpoints to stop the immune system from attacking them. Some drugs stop these checkpoints from working. When this happens, the immune system can attack the cancer cells.
If you have laryngeal cancer, two checkpoint inhibitors that may help shrink a tumor are pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo).
If these drugs are suitable for you, a doctor may prescribe them alone or alongside chemotherapy. They are given through a vein, usually every 3, 4, or 6 weeks.
Post-Treatment Recovery
People with throat cancer may require therapy after treatment to relearn how to speak. A speech therapist and a physical therapist can help with this.
Other patients in recovery may learn a whole new type of speech, such as:
- Esophageal speech
- Electrolarynx speech
- Tracheoesophageal prosthesis
This is different than simply “relearning.” It doesn’t exactly sound like traditional speech.
In addition, some patients with throat cancer experience complications. These may include the following:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in the appearance of the neck or face
- Difficulty speaking
- Skin hardening around the neck
- Difficulty breathing
Occupational therapists can help with swallowing difficulty. If you need reconstructive surgery to help with this or other issues, your doctor can advise you on the next best steps.
Long-Term Outlook for Throat Cancer
The outlook for people with cancer in the throat depends on various factors. These include where it started, the type, and individual factors, such as whether the person smokes cigarettes and continues to smoke.
According to the American Cancer Society, if you receive an early diagnosis, before cancer has spread, the 5-year relative survival rate is 59%. This means you have a 59% chance of living another 5 years compared with a person who does not have cancer.
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for people with oropharyngeal cancer is 52%, according to the American Cancer Society.
Laryngeal Cancer Outlook
For laryngeal cancer, the NCI states the 5-year relative survival rate is 61.6%, but rates vary according to where cancer starts.
For example, if you have cancer in the glottis, the area that includes the vocal cords, and it has not spread beyond the original site, your chance of living at least another 5 years is around 84%, according to the American Cancer Society.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.
All our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.
This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.
Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.
Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.
Types of Biospecimens
Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:
- Peripheral whole-blood
- Amniotic fluid
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
- Sputum
- Pleural effusion
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Serum (sera)
- Plasma
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
- Saliva
- Buffy coat
- Urine
- Stool samples
- Aqueous humor
- Vitreous humor
- Kidney stones (renal calculi)
- Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.
We can also procure most human bio-specimens, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.
In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.
Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.
- 日本のお客様は、ベイバイオサイエンスジャパンBay Biosciences Japanまたはhttp://baybiosciences-jp.com/contact/までご連絡ください。