Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) rates have increased significantly in recent years, and because of the different underlying causes of the disease no single treatment regime seems to be advantageous over another. Currently, the prognosis of OSCC is based on clinical features of the OSCC tumor/s; however the tests performed in order to make a prognosis are individually not efficient and collectively can be time-consuming. Scientists in the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis have invented a method of using specific miRNA signatures to allow for quick and efficient prognosis of patients with OSCC, which can lead to improved patient risk evaluation and treatment.

Potential Advantages:

• Allows for individualized risk evaluation/stratification.
• Results can provide for a tailored treatment options.
• Fast, reliable and relatively inexpensive.

Stage of Development:

• Initial proof-of-concept studies have been completed using over 150 clinical samples.