UK MoD to conduct cancer screening trial
The UK Ministry of Defence is to conduct a mouth cancer screening trial using Zila Europe's OraTest oral cancer detection product. Up to 10,000 personnel deemed to be at risk – smokers, drinkers and the over-45s – will be examined in the trial, which is timed to coincide with the first annual UK Mouth Cancer Awareness Week on 11 November.
The OraTest product, which is being donated by Zila Europe, will be used by MoD dentists at 200 dental facilities at 19 military centres in the UK, Germany and Cyprus. The objectives of the trial are to gauge the efficacy of OraTest in the hands of the MoD's general dental practitioners, and ensure that proper and efficient referral pathways are in place so that all personnel can be examined and treated in a timely fashion.
According to Adrian Webber, vice president and general manager of Zila Europe, this will be the largest OraTest trial ever conducted, focusing on the utility of the product in the hands of the GP. OraTest is a patented five-minute mouthrinse sequence that has been shown to be 100% sensitive for squamous cell carcinoma. It is approved for use in the UK for screening, detection of second primary lesions, and defining margins of lesions for biopsy and surgery.
The dentist administers the OraTest product by having patients rinse with a series of three solutions and water. This stains suspicious lesions deep blue, for evaluation by the clinician, and referral to a spe-cialist as necessary.
Parallel trials are being conducted at three clinics in Denmark, and animal tests have already indicated that the technique has great promise.