Oral Mucosa & Cancer Biology Program
Overview
The Oral Mucosa and Cancer Biology Program supports basic and translational research to improve detection and treatment of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and salivary glands. The program aims to advance knowledge in mechanisms that influence tumor initiation, promotion, and progression, and development of innovative biomarkers and diagnostic technologies to improve medical decision and treatment evaluation. Examples of supported research include:
- Exploring mechanisms of genomic instability, genetic and epigenetic alterations, and dysregulation of signaling pathways critical for cancer development and progression
- Understanding how interplay of cancer stem cells, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, inflammation, and immune regulation in premalignant oral conditions and in tumor heterogeneity, growth, recurrence, and metastasis
- Assessing determinants of tumor immunogenicity and identifying targetable tumor-specific or -associated antigens
- Examining biomarkers of aggressive cancer at early stages, treatment outcome, targets of interaction, and for assessing disease progression
- Imaging for real-time cancer detection and tumor margin assessment to guide biopsy and surgery, and serve as surrogates of tumor response to therapy
- Development of therapeutic antibodies and gene- and stem-cell based therapies for oral cancers, and treatment for oral complications associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- Development of pre-clinical and clinical cancer models, nanoparticles, and minimally invasive methods for cancer diagnosis and therapy
Related Resources
Staff Contact
Program Officer
Oral & Salivary Cancer Biology Program