Indian scientists find genetic clues to tackle oral cancer among women
New Delhi, Nov 30
A team of Indian scientists has discovered oral cancer-causing driver gene mutations in women patients in southern parts of the country.
The team from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru and the BRIC-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani, in collaboration with clinicians from Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar, conducted a female-centric study on oral cancer in India with a unique tobacco chewing habit.
This study led by Professor Tapas K Kundu, JNCASR, Bengaluru aimed to understand what makes cancers in women unique, how the disease manifests and progresses in female patients and how we can treat them better.
The team also used artificial intelligence (deep learning) to digitally analyse tumour tissues. This revealed two distinct groups of female patients, each with a different immune response in their tumours.
India carries one of the world’s heaviest burdens of oral cancer with alarmingly high rates witnessed among women in certain regions, especially in southern and northeast India, due to the widespread habit of chewing tobacco-infused betel quid, gutka, and related products.
While the disease is widely studied in men, oral cancer in women has often remained under the radar.
The study was performed on paired tumour and blood samples from female OSCC-GB patients with a unique regional tobacco-chewing habit (Kaddipudi), commonly observed among women in the Kolar district of Karnataka.
Analysis of this women-centric cohort has revealed a unique driver mutation implicated in oral tumorigenesis.
This investigation, published in the Clinical and Translational Medicine Journal, was specifically designed to uncover the biological underpinnings of the disproportionately aggressive, highly recurrent, and life-threatening forms of oral cancer that affect Indian women.
Using cutting-edge whole-exome sequencing, the researchers identified ten key genes with significant mutations in the female oral cancer cohort from Kolar, Karnataka.
Although two of the major genes, CASP8 and TP53, were found to be highly mutated in these patients, uniquely, CASP8 seems to be the driver mutation (cancer-causing), which is quite different compared to previously studied mutations in oral cancer patients (largely men).
The findings suggest that co-occurring TP53 and CASP8 mutations confer a markedly aggressive and lethal phenotype in oral cancer.
The team is now focused on delineating the molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis driven by this novel driver mutation within the background of TP53 alterations for the next phase of the research.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The tobacco chewing habit in southern states is indeed a major concern. I've seen so many women in rural areas addicted to gutka and paan. While research is good, we need stronger awareness campaigns and stricter regulations on tobacco products.
As someone working in healthcare, I appreciate that they're using AI and deep learning in cancer research. The finding about different immune responses in women is groundbreaking. Indian scientists are really stepping up! 🇮🇳
It's about time women's health got proper attention in cancer research. For too long, studies focused only on men. This could be life-changing for thousands of women in Karnataka and other affected regions.
While I applaud the research, I hope the findings will be accessible and affordable for treatment. Often such breakthroughs remain confined to elite hospitals. The real test is whether this helps ordinary women in rural areas.
Great to see Indian institutions collaborating - JNCASR, NIBMG, and SDUAHER working together. This is how we solve our unique health challenges. The CASP8 mutation discovery could lead to targeted therapies. Proud moment for Indian science! 🎯
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