Oral Cancer

• Oral cancer occurs in two ways: as oral-cavity cancer, which starts in the mouth, and as oropharyngeal cancer, which develops in the part of the throat just behind the mouth (the oropharynx).
  
  
• Oral cancer can affect the cheeks, tongue, mouth and/or throat.
  
  
• Major risk factors for oral cancer include: smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco or betel quid; consuming alcohol; and being infected with human papillomavirus.
  
  
• More than 80 percent of patients whose oral cancer is diagnosed early will survive. Unfortunately, however, the majority of oral cancers are not diagnosed until the disease has advanced.

Marijuana use – Contrary to previous research findings, Marijuana use does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of developing oral cancer, according to a multi-institution study led by Dr. Stephen Schwartz and colleagues. The study also found no increased risk among marijuana users who had other underlying risk factors for oral cancer, such as a history of tobacco use or heavy alcohol use. Learn more »

Determining oral cancer risk factors – Drs. Stephen Schwartz, Chu Chen and Eduardo Mendez are working to gain a better understanding of the interplay of genetic, virologic and lifestyle characteristics in the origins and prognosis of oral cancers. They have found a connection between oral cancer risk and the presence of both human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) in the blood.

Investigators are also studying a variety of genes known or suspected of playing a role in the consequences of exposures to tobacco, alcohol and viruses. The goal is to broaden scientific knowledge about the interactions between a patient's environment and genetic risk for oral cancer.

Predicting aggressive cancer – Dr. Chu Chen and colleagues are pinpointing the genetic changes associated with oral cancer risk and progression. Identifying these genetic patterns could help predict the aggressiveness of a patient’s cancer and ultimately help doctors decide whether surgery, which can cause facial disfiguring and psychological stress, is appropriate. Our investigators are also assessing whether these genes would be useful for predicting recurrence, metastasis and survival in oral cancer patients. Learn more »

Preventing unnecessary surgery – Dr. Chen and colleagues have, for the first time, identified a four-gene set that signals when oral cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck. Published in 2011, the discovery could lead to a test that would help doctors identify which patients require surgery to remove their lymph nodes and those who would not benefit from such an aggressive treatment regimen. Learn more »

Restricting tumor growth – Drs. Chen and Eduardo Mendez have identified gene signatures in patient tumors that can better predict patient survival. Dr. Mendez is also researching novel methods of blocking the same set of genes as a way to impact the growth of cancer cells, a research emphasis that is in the pre-clinical phase.

Advancing treatment – Dr. Renato Martins is testing new combinations of drug therapies to improve treatment of head and neck cancers.