Bengaluru: Genetic Variants in Oral Cancer

A joint team of scientists from the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology and HCG Cancer Centre have identified 114 genetic variants which cause oral cancer in humans.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, has also revealed key genetic signatures that can predict survival in oral cancer patients with over 90 percent accuracy.

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Oral cancer is uncontrolled cell division in the oral cavity which needs immediate medical attention. There is a wide variety of symptoms including:

• Lump/mass
• Reddish specks
• White thrush that cannot be removed
• Difficulty in opening of the mouth

If untreated for a prolonged period, it may lead to severe pain, bleeding, malnutrition, and dehydration due to the swelling and pain in the mouth causing swallowing problems.

Further, the analysis of mutations gave out a list of unique genes associated with 114 novel variants, of which:

• 35 were oncogenes
• 11 were tumor suppressors
• 2 were DNA damage repair genes

Oral cancer is one of the most common in the country and accounts for 40 percent of all cancer cases, with significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, even after the best treatment, oral cancer is found to recur in up to 50 percent of cases.

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But the new research would make it possible to provide treatment in an effective way such that the disease does not recur and enables precise treatment with improved quality of life, said Prof. Vibha Choudhary, from IBAB, in a statement.

The researchers have also identified novel mutations in the IRAK1 gene, which would pave the way to provide target-directed treatment without affecting the healthy cells in the body. The findings would guide towards cell-targeted personalized treatment, the researchers said.

Also Read: Oral cancer has better clinical outcomes among young compared to elderly: Study