Evaluation of Smoking-Associated Genes in Disparate Appalachian Head and Neck Cancer (1)

This research study will provide new information on the mechanisms by which tobacco-induced genetic damage leads to the earlier death of Appalachian individuals harboring oral tumors with the worst clinical outcomes. The proposal will systematically evaluate specific, novel tobacco-related genes that have not been previously studied for tumor-promoting effects in oral cancer and other cancer types, offering new insight into potential druggable targets in Appalachian and other patient populations with high tobacco use and DNA-damaging risk factors.