New treatments from bitter melon for head and neck (oral) cancer
Official title: Developing new therapeutic strategies against head and neck cancer
Funded at Saint Louis University · NIH-11310020 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing bitter melon compounds, including momordicine-I, as potential new treatments for people with head and neck (especially oral) cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2015 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $458,356 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE025141-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11310020 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future trials would be people diagnosed with head and neck or oral cancer, especially those at risk of recurrence or seeking additional treatment options beyond standard care.
✕Less likely to help
People without head and neck cancer or those needing immediate standard treatment for life-threatening disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical work right now.
What this research studies
This work uses lab and animal models to study how bitter melon extract and its active compound momordicine-I affect head and neck cancer growth. Researchers found the extract alters c-Met signaling, changes immune responses, and affects long non-coding RNAs in carcinogen-induced models. Momordicine-I has shown anti-tumor activity in preclinical tests. Although most work so far is in the lab and animals, the goal is to move toward treatments that could be tested in people in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new adjunct therapies from natural compounds that reduce recurrence and improve survival for head and neck cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior lab and animal studies have shown bitter melon extracts can slow tumor growth, but translation to human clinical benefit is novel and largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Ratna B. — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Ray, Ratna B.
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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.