How tissue stiffness influences oral cancer spread
Official title: Material Stiffness Directs Oral Cancer Migration
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11378945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing whether stiffer tissues around oral cancers make tumor cells change and spread in adults with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $112,050 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA280279-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially those with firm or poorly defined tumor borders or recurrent disease, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without oral squamous cell carcinoma (for example patients with non-oral head and neck cancers, benign mouth conditions, or those under 21) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the hardness of tissue around an oral tumor affects cancer cell behavior. The team will study patient tumor samples and use laboratory models that mimic different tissue stiffness levels to watch cells become more mobile and invasive. They will use molecular tests, including ATAC-seq and pathway analysis (for example AKT signaling), to identify the changes that drive a more aggressive cell state. Findings will be used to explore ways to soften the tumor environment or block the signals that let cancer cells invade.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to limit tumor spread and reduce how much healthy tissue must be removed during surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Work in breast cancer has shown that stiffer tissue can promote invasion, but applying this concept to oral squamous cell carcinoma is relatively new with only a few prior studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Engler, Adam J — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Engler, Adam J
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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.