Understanding the oral microbiome and inflammation in oral cancer patients
Official title: Oral microbiome and inflammatory status in antimicrobially-treated oral cancer patients
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11113939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how the balance of germs in the mouth and inflammation might affect patients with oral cancer who are receiving treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $626,400 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269950-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11113939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially those receiving antimicrobial treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without oral squamous cell carcinoma or those not undergoing antimicrobial treatment may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Oral cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, continues to be a serious concern with survival rates that haven't improved much. While new treatments are emerging, many patients still face poor outcomes, highlighting the need for better options. This project looks at how the community of bacteria and other germs in your mouth, called the oral microbiome, can become unbalanced, especially when influenced by factors like diet, tobacco, and alcohol. Researchers believe this imbalance, along with inflammation, might play a role in how oral cancer develops and responds to treatment. By understanding these connections, we hope to find new ways to improve care for patients with oral cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for improving treatment outcomes and survival rates for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of the microbiome in cancer is an active area of investigation, this specific approach to understanding its interaction with inflammation in antimicrobially-treated oral cancer patients is exploring novel connections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kapila, Yvonne L — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Kapila, Yvonne L
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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.