Andrea Gonzalez
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Research Mentor(s): Justine Moe
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Dentistry
Program: UROP
Session: Session 4 (1:40pm – 2:30pm)
Authors:
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) comprises 3% of new cancer cases in the U.S. with an estimated 54,000 new cases in 2022. Examples of clinical presentations of OSCC are oral masses, white or red spots, or chronic ulcers. Surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy may be required in specific circumstances to treat this cancer. While risk factors for OSCC include the use of tobacco products, excessive alcohol consumption, betel nut, and altered immune system, OSCC can develop in the absence of known risk factors. The objective of this translational project is to explore the impact of sex hormones on OSCC tumorigenesis. The clinical arm of this project includes distribution of surveys to patients with OSCC to collect information on potential risk factors for cancer not previously described. The surveys have been given to the same patients from the collections of cancer. Additionally, normal, precancerous, and cancerous tissue is collected at the time of surgery from which we are developing OSCC cell lines. Current projects include assessing the expression of sex hormone receptors in these cancers. This ongoing research project expects to see results next year, so far, cells have reached over 100 passages. Future projects include assessment of response of these cell lines to chemotherapeutic medications including cisplatin.
