Investigating a new approach to manage pain in oral cancer patients
Official title: Targeting HB-EGF and trigeminal EGFR for oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance
Funded at New York University · NIH-10582847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called HB-EGF influences pain and how well opioids work for people with oral cancer, and it aims to help improve pain management for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | September 18, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $2,389,676 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DE032501-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10582847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from oral cancer who experience severe pain and are currently using opioids for pain management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have oral cancer or those who do not experience significant pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how a specific protein, HB-EGF, affects pain and opioid tolerance in patients with oral cancer. The team will explore the role of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in pain management by examining its interaction with opioid receptors and other proteins involved in pain signaling. Through a combination of pharmacological and genetic methods, they aim to identify how these mechanisms contribute to pain and tolerance to opioid medications. Patients may be involved in assessments that measure pain-related behaviors and responses to treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that effectively manage pain in oral cancer patients without the rapid development of opioid tolerance.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of targeting HB-EGF in oral cancer pain is novel, similar research has shown promise in understanding pain mechanisms and developing new pain management strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ye, Yi — New York University
- Study coordinator: Ye, Yi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Truncated TrkB and Oral Cancer Pain in Head and Neck Cancer
This project looks at a specific brain receptor told to influence pain in people with oral cancer to find new ways to reduce pain without heavy opioids.
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Understanding how mouth cancer proteases drive pain in patients
This NIH grant looks at how enzymes in oral cancer tumors may cause pain, aiming to connect specific proteases with how patients feel pain.
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Blocking HB-EGF and trigeminal EGFR to reduce oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance
Blocking HB-EGF and EGFR signals in trigeminal nerve cells to try to reduce severe mouth cancer pain and slow opioid tolerance for people with oral cancer.
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Continuous flow production of antibody-loaded nanoparticles for non-opioid oral cancer pain relief
A non-opioid approach using antibody-packed nanoparticles is being developed to relieve oral cancer pain and improve quality of life.
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Investigating a specific protein's role in pain from oral cancer
This study is looking at how a protein called TrkBT1 affects pain in people with head and neck cancer, with the goal of finding better ways to manage that pain without relying too much on opioids.
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.