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Gates Oral Cancer Research Group 

Stage 0/Oral Cancer Initiation Project: Toward Prevention and Early Detection

Oral cancer is an aggressive disease that often requires morbid treatment.  There has been little improvement in the 5-year overall survival.  Early detection and prevention are paramount for improving the success of therapies as well as survival.   

The Stage 0/Oral Cancer Initiation Research Project aims to elucidate the critical molecular changes involved in the development of oral cancer.  Currently, most research focuses on singular events or changes occurring in oncogenesis or prevention.  Our mission is to better understand all aspects of oral oncogenesis including the: genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, structural and microbiome changes that occur in progressing oral premalignant lesions and their microenvironment.  We aim to use this information to inform and develop innovative solutions to combat this disease earlier and more effectively.  Moreover, this research forms the basis for our future clinical trial investigations, prioritizing factors, biomarkers and techniques to best identify high risk oral lesions.

Oral Cancer Initiation Research Members

Michael Troka

Interests: Epigenetic-Metabolic Axis, Cell Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment, Bioinformatics, Multiomics

Projects:

  • “Beyond the Mutational Landscape of Oral Oncogenesis: TFAP2A and the Epigenetic-Metabolic Axis of Oral Squamous Cell Cancer Initiation”
  • “Toward Improved Therapy for Oral Cancer: Dissecting the Tumor Microenvironment at the Single-Cell Level with Machine Learning Predicts Novel Therapeutic Targets in OSCC”

 

Mehar Soni

Interests: Immunologic Factors of Oral Cancer Initiation

Project: “HLA Risks and Susceptibilities in the Progression and Malignant Transformation of Oral Leukoplakia”

 

Mugdha Raut 

Interests: Structural Factors of Oral Cancer Initiation

Project: “Prognostic Significance of Cortactin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma”

Angelina Debbas

Interests: Oral Cancer Prevention, Oral dysbiosis

Project: “Metformin and Melatonin Combination Therapy as Target for Oral Oncogenesis”

Jessica Winarto

Interests: Oral Cancer Treatment, Oncogenesis Pathway

Projects:

          • “Metformin and Melatonin Combination Therapy as Target for Oral Oncogenesis”
          • “Metformin and Melatonin Synergistically Induced Cell Death in OSCC”

Jacquelyn Cuccurullo

Interests: Oral Cancer Prevention

Project: “Metformin and Melatonin Combination Therapy as Target for Oral Oncogenesis”

Interests: Immunologic Factors of Oral Cancer Initiation

Projects: “HLA Risks and Susceptibilities in the Progression and Malignant Transformation of Oral Leukoplakia”

Mehrnaz Zakershahrak, DDS

Interests: Tumor Microenvironment, RNA sequencing, Exosomes

Projects: “Exosome Contribution to Oral Cancer Initiation”

Clinical Trial

In this trial, patients will undergo standard of care biopsy and active surveillance with additional investigational testing of their tissue specimens.  We will assess molecular changes in oral premalignant lesions via immunohistochemistry.  We hypothesize that these tests may aid in identifying high risk oral leukoplakia at risk for transformation to oral cancer more than degree of dysplasia alone.  Our future aim would be to combine any successful test with more advanced techniques such as RNA sequencing with the hope to effect meaningful change in preventing and treating oral cancer as it develops.

Dr. James Gates

Principal Investigator: James Gates DMD, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 

Co-investigators: Faizan Alawi DDS, Jalal Jalaly MD, Ara Chalian MD, Cooper Schwarz MD, Keshia Mora MD, PhD, Michael Troka BA, Roopali Kulkarni DMD, MPH, Malek Kamoun MD, PhD

Oral Cancer Translational Research Collaborations

 

Related Publications

 

Grants

Schoenleber Grant, Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 12/9/2022.

Poster Presentations/Awards

  • “Metformin and Melatonin Synergistically Induced Cell Death in OSCC”

    Jessica Winarto (pictured); Angelina Debbas; Jacquelyn Cuccurullo; Shihong Shi; James Gates, DMD, MD, FACS; Qunzhou Zhang, PhD; Anh D. Le, DDS, PhD

    Presented at AAODCR, March 2025.

  • “The Role of HLA in Progression of Oral Leukoplakia”

    “The Role of HLA in Progression of Oral Leukoplakia” by Mehar Soni (pictured, center) , Bryce DeSantis Malek Kamoun MD PhD and James Gates DMD, MD

    Soni was the recipient of 2025 Penn Dental Medicine Research Day “Oral Cancer Award”

  • “Metformin and Melatonin Synergistically Induced Cell Death in OSCC”

    “Metformin and Melatonin Synergistically Induced Cell Death in OSCC” by Jessica Winarto (pictured, right) Angelina Debbas; Jacquelyn Cuccurullo; Shihong Shi; James Gates, DMD, MD, FACS; Qunzhou Zhang, PhD; Anh D. Le, DDS, PhD

    Winarto was the recipient of 2025 Penn Dental Medicine Research Day “AAODCR Student Research Day Award.”

  • “Surveillance of Premalignant Lesions In the Immunocompromised Patients”

    “Surveillance of Premalignant Lesions In the Immunocompromised Patients”. Brenda Okonkwo (pictured) James Gates.

    Presented at Advances in Clinical Care and Education Day, Penn Dental Medicine, May 15, 2025.

  • “Prognostic Significance of Cortactin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

    “Prognostic Significance of Cortactin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review” by Raut and James Gates.

    Mugdha Raut (pictured, second from right) was the recipient of 2025 Penn Dental Medicine Research Day “Vernon Brightman Award”