New Indian Research Finds Genetic Clues To Tackle Oral Cancer Early In Women

A new study led by Indian researchers has uncovered a set of gene mutations that appear to fuel an aggressive form of oral cancer in women from southern India. According to a report from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the findings draw attention to a rarely examined segment of patients and point to biological factors that differ from those seen in male-centric studies.

The work involved scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bengaluru and the BRIC National Institute of Biomedical Genomics in Kalyani. They worked with medical teams at the Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research in Kolar, Karnataka. 

The study focused on women who regularly use Kaddipudi. This is a local blend of tobacco and additives that is widely used in the Kolar region and is known to raise the risk of oral cancer.

Significance of the Study

India carries one of the highest oral cancer loads in the world. Women in parts of Karnataka and in several northeastern states face a particularly severe burden because tobacco chewing practices remain common.

While this trend has been recognised for years, most research on the disease has centred on men. This leaves major gaps in understanding how oral cancer progresses in women and why it often behaves more aggressively.

To address this gap, the team gathered tumour samples and matched blood samples from women diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

They then used whole-exome sequencing to scan for repeated genetic alterations. The analysis identified ten genes that showed significant mutations in this group.

Two genes stood out. TP53, which is one of the most important protective genes in the body, showed frequent damage. When this gene fails, the natural controls that prevent cancer weaken sharply.

CASP8, which helps regulate cell death, also showed recurring mutations. When this gene does not function as it should, abnormal cells may survive and expand.

The most striking result was that CASP8 appeared to act as a driver mutation in many of the women studied. Prior work that relied mostly on male patients had highlighted other pathways.

The shift in this female cohort suggests that sex specific biology and regional tobacco habits may alter how the disease forms at the genetic level.

The researchers also turned to deep learning tools to study tumour tissue. This digital approach revealed two clear groups of patients.

One group showed a more active immune environment inside the tumour, while the other displayed a weaker response. These patterns may help explain why some tumours spread faster and why treatment outcomes vary widely.

Women who had both TP53 and CASP8 mutations showed the most severe form of the disease. Their tumours were more likely to recur and displayed more aggressive behaviour.

This combination may serve as a warning sign for clinicians who treat women with oral cancer. It also supports the need for screening methods that look for mutation patterns rather than relying only on clinical symptoms.

The findings have been published in Clinical and Translational Medicine. The research team now plans to examine how CASP8 mutations drive tumour growth when TP53 is already impaired.

By mapping these pathways, the team hopes to identify targets for new treatments. Such targets may support the development of drugs that block the early steps of tumour formation.

The study highlights a critical point. Oral cancer in women cannot be understood by relying on evidence drawn from male populations.

It has its own genetic profile that calls for focused research. With tobacco chewing still common in parts of India and with women facing rising health risks, the need for tailored prevention and treatment strategies has become a pressing issue.