Mouth bacteria that may speed up oral cancer
Official title: Oral Pathogen-triggered Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Funded at Oklahoma State University Stillwater · NIH-11335589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether specific mouth bacteria help oral squamous cell carcinoma grow and spread in people who have or are at risk for oral cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma State University Stillwater NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stillwater, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $226,989 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152333-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma or those at higher risk due to tobacco or alcohol use, HPV infection, or poor oral hygiene would be the most relevant candidates for related patient studies.
✕Less likely to help
People with cancers unrelated to the mouth or conditions not linked to the oral microbiome are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare the mouth bacteria of people with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to those without cancer to find microbes linked to worse disease. In the lab they will test bacterial strains, including Prevotella intermedia, on human oral cancer cells and study bacterial proteins like Interpain A (InpA) that may change cell growth and movement. They will explore how InpA might work by activating the human receptor PAR2 and use these findings to look for biomarkers or targets to slow cancer progression. The work combines human sample comparisons and laboratory experiments rather than testing new drugs in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal bacterial targets or biomarkers that help prevent or slow progression of oral cancer and guide new treatments or oral-health strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies have linked a few bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum) to oral cancer and recent work suggesting Prevotella intermedia plays a role is promising but still preliminary.
Where this research is happening
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Oklahoma State University Stillwater
Stillwater, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, I-Hsiu — Oklahoma State University Stillwater
- Study coordinator: Huang, I-Hsiu
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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.