Role of CASP8 and HRAS co-mutation in oral cancer development
Official title: Role of CASP8 and HRAS co-mutation in oral epithelium malignant transformation
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11454752 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how specific gene mutations in the mouth lining may drive oral cancer and seeks to find early markers that could help detect high-risk lesions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,200 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE035544-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454752 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with high- or low-risk premalignant oral lesions or individuals at risk for oral squamous cell carcinoma could benefit from the findings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without premalignant oral lesions or risk factors for oral cancer may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers use a mouse model where HRAS and CASP8 mutations can be turned on in oral tissue to study how these changes promote cancer. They will also apply advanced imaging to see how the tumors grow, resist cell death, and evade the immune system. In parallel, they will analyze patient samples to determine if these mutations appear early in premalignant oral lesions and could predict higher cancer risk. The goal is to uncover biomarkers that could enable earlier detection and guide personalized prevention or treatment strategies for people at risk of oral cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier detection and better risk stratification for patients with premalignant oral lesions, potentially guiding earlier and more precise interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in cancer biology have shown that mutational context can influence tumor behavior and biomarker development, suggesting this approach has precedent but remains to be validated.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cui, Zhibin — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Cui, Zhibin
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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.