Blocking a cancer-related protein to slow mouth (oral) cancer and change immune cells
Official title: Targeted inhibition of eIF5Ahpu suppresses tumor growth and M2-like TAM polarization in oral cancer
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11326696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether stopping a protein process called eIF5A hypusination can slow tumor growth and make immune cells in people with oral (mouth) cancer less supportive of the tumor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $413,522 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE031023-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326696 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially those with aggressive, recurrent, or treatment-resistant tumors, would be the most likely candidates for related future treatments or trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers outside the mouth or whose tumors do not rely on the eIF5A/hypusination pathway are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
From my view as a patient, researchers are studying oral squamous cell carcinoma by looking at human tumor data and doing lab tests to learn how a protein called eIF5A (and its special modification, hypusination) helps tumors grow. They will use patient tumor datasets and experiments in cells and mice to see whether blocking the enzymes that enable that modification slows cancer cell growth, reduces cancer stem cell traits, and changes tumor-associated immune cells. The team will measure tumor size, cancer cell behavior, and whether macrophages in the tumor shift away from an immune-suppressing (M2-like) state. Their work is aimed at finding drug targets in the polyamine/eIF5A pathway that could be developed into future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new therapies that slow oral cancer growth, reduce treatment resistance, and make the tumor immune environment less supportive of cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Related laboratory and animal studies targeting the hypusination enzymes have shown promising anti-tumor effects, but this approach has not yet been proven effective in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le, Anh D — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Le, Anh D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile platform using AI to screen for oral cancer in low-resource communities
A low-cost, AI-powered mobile tool helps frontline healthcare workers screen for oral cancer and triage patients in communities with limited access to specialists.
-
Endosomal signaling and cancer pain control in oral cancer
A study to understand how signals inside nerve cells and supportive cells contribute to pain in people with oral cancer.
-
Affordable AI-enabled point-of-care tool for quick oral cancer checks
A low-cost AI-powered imaging module helps clinicians screen for oral cancer at the point of care, especially in community and resource-limited settings.
-
How tissue stiffness affects oral cancer spread
A researcher at UC San Diego is studying how the stiffness of mouth tissue influences the behavior of oral cancer cells in people.
-
Intraoperative fluorescence lifetime imaging to guide oral cancer surgery
A surgeon-friendly imaging system uses fluorescence lifetime signals and real-time MRI/CT alignment to help remove only cancerous tissue during oral cancer operations.
-
Point-of-Care AI Image Tool for Early Oral Cancer Detection
A new, affordable AI-powered tool helps frontline clinicians screen for oral cancer early by using a low-cost imaging module at the point of care.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.