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.
Interests: Oral cancer prevention and treatment
Projects: “Outcomes of Dental School Pilot Biopsy Program” and “Dental Workforce Availability and Head and Neck Cancer Outcomes: A County-Level Population Analysis”
Interests: Metabolic Syndrome and Genetic Predispositions of Oral Cancer
Projects: “Identifying Meaningful Potentially Modifiable Metabolic Abnormalities In Oral Cancer Patients” and “Genetic Predisposition and Oral Cancer: A Penn Med BioBank Investigation”
Interests: Oral Cancer Risks and Treatment
Project: Association Between Metabolic Syndrome Factors and Oral Cancer
Interests: Metabolic Dysfunction in Oral Dysplasia and Oral Cancer
Project: Identifying Potential Modifiable Metabolic Abnormalities in Oral Dysplasia and Cancer Patients
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” and “Toward Improved Therapy for Oral Cancer: Dissecting the Tumor Microenvironment at the Single-Cell Level with Machine Learning Predicts Novel Therapeutic Targets in OSCC”
Interests: Immunologic Factors of Oral Cancer Initiation
Project: “HLA Risks and Susceptibilities in the Progression and Malignant Transformation of Oral Leukoplakia”
Interests: Tumor Microenvironment, RNA sequencing, Exosomes
Project: “Exosome Contribution to Oral Cancer Initiation”
In this trial, patients will undergo standard of care biopsy and active surveillance with advanced sequencing of blood and their tissue specimens. We will assess the molecular profiles of these lesions over time and match them to the outcome of the patients. Our future aim would be to develop a model to better predict which patients are at risk for progression to oral cancer to better inform clinical management strategies and outcomes.
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; and Malek Kamoun MD, PhD
Michael E. Troka (D’26), “Progressive Partially Methylated Domain Erosion and Targeted ZNF471 Silencing Define Two Independent Epigenetic Programs in Oral Premalignancy,” James C. Gates (advisor)
Schoenleber Grant, Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 12/9/2022.
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.
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”
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.”
Brenda Okonkwo (pictured) and James Gates.
Presented at Advances in Clinical Care and Education Day, Penn Dental Medicine, May 15, 2025.
Mugdha Raut and James Gates
Mugdha Raut (pictured, second from right) was the recipient of 2025 Penn Dental Medicine Research Day “Vernon Brightman Award”
Jessica Winarto, Jacquelyn Cuccurullo, and Angelina Debbas (pictured left to right)
Presented at Penn Dental Medicine Research Day 2024.
