Award
National Cancer Institute 5U01CA290479-03
Mapping immuno-genomic drivers of the head and neck precancer invasive-disease transition
Recipient
University of California, San Diego
Award Amount
$790,000.00
Ceiling
$790,000.00
Awarded
August 21, 2025
Identifier
5U01CA290479-03
The award funds research to understand and prevent the progression of oral premalignant lesions to invasive oral cancer by studying immune-genomic interactions and developing predictive biomarkers.
Description
This project aims to elucidate the molecular and immune mechanisms driving the progression of oral leukoplakia (OL) to oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a lethal subtype of head and neck cancer. It involves generating a comprehensive atlas of 300 OL samples using whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing, spatial multiplex immuno-fluorescence, and RNA-sequencing to map immune landscapes and identify predictive biomarkers. The goal is to identify immuno-genetic changes and targetable immune cell populations to halt malignant transformation.