REASON Score: an epigenetic and clinicopathologic approach to predict survival risk in early oral cancer
Official title: The REASON Score: An Epigenetic And Clinicopathologic Score to Predict Risk of Poor Survival in Early Stage Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Funded at Loma Linda University · NIH-11372175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new biomarker-based score using DNA methylation and clinicopathology to predict survival risk for people with early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loma Linda University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Loma Linda, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 11, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $714,757 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE031395-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (I/II) who have stored FFPE tissue samples and known 5-year survival data from multiple institutions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not show the methylation markers or whose data cannot be harmonized with clinicopathologic features may not receive added benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to validate a mortality risk score for early-stage OSCC patients using methylation markers together with clinical features in a multi-institutional set of FFPE tumor samples. By confirming how well this score predicts 5-year survival, clinicians could tailor treatment plans beyond traditional stage alone. The study builds on prior findings from TCGA and a discovery cohort, applying the biomarker to real-world patient tissues. If successful, the score could help identify patients who need more aggressive therapy versus those who may avoid unnecessary treatment. The work will involve retrospective data, molecular profiling, and integration with clinicopathologic information to improve prognostic accuracy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and clinicians could receive more personalized treatment plans that improve survival and reduce overtreatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work demonstrated a strong predictive performance of a methylation and clinical marker-based score in early-stage OSCC, supporting validation in new cohorts.
Where this research is happening
-
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viet, Chi T. — Loma Linda University
- Study coordinator: Viet, Chi T.
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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.