Key Mutations in Oral Cancers Linked to Tobacco Chewing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying the Molecular Characteristics of Oral Cancers Associated with Betel Quid and Smokeless Tobacco Use in the Asian Population of Leicester
IRAS ID
341116
Contact name
Sundarraj Lakshmiah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
176916, Edge ID
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study looks at a type of mouth cancer that affects many people worldwide. While most people know that smoking, drinking alcohol, and certain viruses (like HPV) can cause these cancers, there are other causes too—especially in South Asian communities, like those in Leicester.
In these communities, many people chew something called betel quid (also known as paan). This is a mixture of ingredients like betel leaf, areca nut, sometimes tobacco, and other flavourings. It’s a common cultural habit, but it can increase the risk of developing mouth cancer.
The goal of this research is to understand how cancers caused by chewing paan might be different at the microscopic and genetic level compared to those caused by smoking and alcohol. The study will examine tissue samples from 150 patients with oral cancer—75 who chew paan and 75 who smoke or drink. The researchers will look at certain proteins (called markers) inside the cancer cells to see how they behave in these two groups.
By studying these patterns, the team hopes to learn more about why and how these cancers grow and spread. This knowledge could eventually help doctors create more tailored and effective treatments, especially for people from South Asian backgrounds.
This study will only include adults of Asian background with a confirmed diagnosis of mouth cancer. All personal information will be kept private, and the study will only begin after getting ethical approval.
In the future, this work could lead to more advanced studies that use powerful genetic testing tools (known as next-generation sequencing) to look even deeper into the cancer's makeup.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0265
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion