Immune clues for preventing oral cancer from early lesions
Official title: Immune determinants of progression from Oral Epithelial Dysplasia to Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by precision multiplexed imaging
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11301814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team will look at how the immune system behaves in early mouth lesions to predict which ones become cancer and how to intervene earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $738,039 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032033-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with oral epithelial dysplasia or related precancerous oral lesions who may later progress to cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without dysplastic lesions or with non-progressive lesions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on oral epithelial dysplasia, a precancerous condition in the mouth, to understand how immune responses influence progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Researchers will use precision multiplexed imaging to study tissue samples and identify immune patterns linked with higher or lower risk of cancer development. By clarifying these immune factors, the study aims to inform earlier, more targeted interventions while balancing potential morbidities from aggressive treatment. The work is conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, led by Dr. Matthew Spitzer, and will involve detailed analysis of patient tissue samples over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable earlier, more precise treatments for people with precancerous mouth lesions, potentially reducing cancer risk and treatment-related harms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports the idea that immune changes in early lesions relate to cancer risk, but this approach uses advanced imaging to gain new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spitzer, Matthew — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Spitzer, Matthew
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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.