Single-cell map of immune cells in oral dysplasia turning into cancer
Official title: Single-cell immune landscape in the oral dysplasia's malignant transformation
Funded at University of the Pacific-Stockton · NIH-11337556 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will create a high-resolution map of immune cells in premalignant oral tissue to help predict which lesions may become cancerous.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of the Pacific-Stockton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stockton, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $176,255 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150790-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11337556 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with oral dysplasia or premalignant tongue lesions who may eventually progress to oral squamous cell carcinoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with lesions that do not progress to cancer or who do not undergo premalignant biopsy studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will analyze about 200 FFPE tongue biopsy samples from dental archives using high-dimensional imaging mass cytometry and a machine-learning model to find immune features that distinguish how severe the oral dysplasia is and which cases are likely to progress to oral cancer. The team will validate key findings with additional staining on full tissue sections to ensure the markers work beyond the initial samples. By building a single-cell atlas of the premalignant immune environment, patients and clinicians could gain new clues for risk assessment and potential early interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early prediction of cancer risk in oral premalignant lesions and guide targeted prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have shown that immune signals can relate to cancer risk, but this project aims to create a dedicated single-cell atlas for premalignant oral lesions, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of the Pacific-Stockton
Stockton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Xiaoyuan — University of the Pacific-Stockton
- Study coordinator: Han, Xiaoyuan
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.