Research Catalyst: US$6M in New NIH Funding Fuels Quest for Oral Cancer Treatment and Pain Relief
Researchers at the School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio have received three multi-year grants totaling $6 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to spearhead new research into oral cancer. This substantial funding injection is aimed at addressing two critical and growing challenges: developing effective treatments for the deadly disease and finding novel approaches for pain management.
The research is timely, given that oral cancer (specifically oral squamous cell carcinoma) is becoming more common and continues to carry a relatively low survival rate.
Dual Focus: Treatment and Pain Relief
The combined $6 million funding is divided across three distinct projects, each targeting a different mechanism of the disease and its associated conditions:
Targeting Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC): One grant is dedicated to identifying new targets to stem the growth of OSCC, the most common form of oral cancer. This work proposes transformative therapies to reduce cancer progression.
Addressing Oral Mucositis: Another significant portion of the funding will investigate novel approaches to treating oral mucositis. This condition involves massive inflammation and painful ulcers in the mouth, which are often a debilitating side effect of radiotherapy for cancer.
Investigating Cancer Pain Mechanisms: A third grant will delve into a new mechanism for reducing oral cancer pain. This research is crucial, as it aims to provide the foundational knowledge necessary to develop future drugs that can serve the dual purpose of both pain management and cancer treatment.
Specific Research Projects
The grants are led by multiple principal investigators and focus on highly specific biological targets:
TRPC1 Ion Channel: A two-year grant will evaluate the feasibility of targeting TRPC1 (Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 1), an ion channel in the cell membrane associated with tumor activity.
TrkB Receptor Isoform: A four-year, $2.6 million grant will study the role of the truncated TrkBT1 isoform—a receptor version known to be linked to neuropathic pain—in mediating tumor-site pain.
By attacking both the cancer itself and the severe conditions it imposes on patients, this research holds new promise for developing transformative therapies, potentially leading to better outcomes and a significantly improved quality of life for oral cancer patients.
Original Article Details
Original Title: New NIH grants fuel research in oral cancer treatment and pain relief
Source: UT Health San Antonio (as cited by News-Medical.net)