Oral Cancer News and Research

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Oral cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide and in the U.S., one person dies every hour from the disease. According to American Cancer Society data, nearly as many women will be diagnosed with oral cancer as with cervical cancer this year. The key to reducing the impact of this disease is early detection.

Psilocybin protects sensory nerves from chemotherapy damage in preclinical study

In mouse models, prophylactic psilocybin prevented or reduced multiple features of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, with cycle-matched dosing sustaining protection during repeated cisplatin exposure without measurably affecting tumor growth. Experiments in human-derived sensory neurons and ex vivo peripheral nerves linked the effect to 5-HT2A-dependent preservation of mitochondrial trafficking and local axonal energy supply, while a nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist reproduced protection against mechanical hypersensitivity.

6 Sep 2026

New review examines oral cancer drug delivery barriers and strategies

Delivering drugs directly to oral tumor sites remains challenging. A recent review involving researchers from Hasanuddin University examines barriers to local drug delivery and analyses strategies for targeting oral cancer lesions.

26 Aug 2026

Researchers develop noninvasive chairside test to detect oral cancer

A Case Western Reserve University–led research team is developing a noninvasive oral cancer test to help clinicians decide-chairside and within minutes- whether a suspicious lesion in the mouth needs a biopsy.

12 Aug 2026

Nicotine gum may make smokeless tobacco withdrawal easier to manage

A randomized trial found that 2 mg nicotine gum controlled craving, anxiety, and sleep problems more effectively than behavioral counselling during smokeless tobacco cessation. Although abstinence rates were numerically higher with nicotine gum, the differences were not statistically significant, highlighting the need for larger studies.

6 Aug 2026

Immune pathway may promote the progression of oral precancerous lesions

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center identified an immune pathway that may promote the progression of oral precancerous lesions into head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

16 Jul 2026

Simple probiotic may treat acid reflux and prevent cancer

Patients with acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid pushes up into the esophagus, know the symptoms all too well: heartburn, belching, chest pain and trouble swallowing.

3 Jun 2026

Researchers identify unique genetic signature in rare oral cancer

Cancer diagnosis can be challenging, and delayed diagnosis can allow cancer to progress, complicating treatment.

26 May 2026

Internal mutations and microbes may drive a distinct subtype of oral cancer

A new study reveals that many oral cancers are no longer driven by traditional risk factors like smoking or Human papillomavirus infection.

22 May 2026

Bioengineered chewing gum reduces cancer-linked oral microbes

Researchers led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine have shown that extracts from bioengineered chewing gum reduce the levels of three microbes known to be associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), paving the way for more effective and affordable therapies.

23 Apr 2026

Low-dose nivolumab injections shrink precancerous oral lesions

Direct injection of a low dose of the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab into precancerous oral lesions significantly reduced lesion size and risk of cancer progression, sparing most patients from surgery.

21 Apr 2026

Injectable immunotherapy shrinks precancerous oral lesions in clinical trial

Injecting nivolumab (Opdivo) directly into precancerous oral lesions led to reduction in lesion size and allowed some patients to avoid surgery, according to research from a phase I clinical trial presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, held April 17-22.

21 Apr 2026

Wisdom Bioscience establishes Scientific Advisory Board to advance oral cancer diagnostics and screening

Wisdom Bioscience, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering non-invasive oral cancer diagnostics, today announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) following the close of an initial funding round.

2 Mar 2026

Transforming modern dentistry with AI tools

When Hend Alqaderiwas studying how saliva could predict the risk of diabetes or the severity of a coronavirus infection, she collected a lot of saliva samples-thousands, measuring hundreds of bacteria samples for each patient.

26 Feb 2026

Changes in lymphatic vessels can help identify aggressive oral cancer at an early stage

Oral cancers are the most common malignant tumors in the head and neck region, causing more than 188,000 deaths worldwide each year.

18 Feb 2026

Review links betel nut addiction to cancer, heart disease, and metabolic risks

This review examines the epidemiology, health risks, neurobiological mechanisms, and emerging treatments related to betel nut addiction worldwide. It highlights strong links with oral cancer, cardiometabolic disease, and addiction pathways while noting limited established therapies and the need for coordinated public health strategies.

11 Feb 2026

Oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance share a common EGFR mechanism

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in the tissue around oral cancers both increases nerve sensitivity and makes opioids less effective, according to new research published in Science Signaling.

29 Jan 2026

BATF2: A novel tumor suppressor silenced by glutamine in head and neck cancer

A novel tumor suppressor, BATF2, can be silenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment, leading to a reduced immune response in five preclinical models of head and neck cancer, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

7 Jan 2026

Cancer stole her voice. She used AI, curse words, and kids’ books to get it back.

When doctors told her they had to remove her tongue and voice box to save her life from the cancer that had invaded her mouth, Sonya Sotinsky sat down with a microphone to record herself saying the things she would never again be able to say.

21 Nov 2025

New NIH grants fuel research in oral cancer treatment and pain relief

Researchers at the School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, have been awarded three multi-year grants totaling $6 million from the National Institutes of Health to address treatment and pain management for oral cancer.

7 Nov 2025

New insights into how bacteria can drive treatment resistance in oral and colorectal cancer

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that explains how bacteria can drive treatment resistance in patients with oral and colorectal cancer.

16 Oct 2025