Inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria and study summary
Oral cancer (OSCC) is the 8th most common cancer worldwide, representing about 4% of all malignancies. In the UK, the incidence has increased dramatically over the last 20 years, particularly in young non-smokers, with around 5,000 new cases each year. Compared with many cancers, OSCC remains a relatively understudied disease. And despite advances in surgery and radiotherapy, which remain the standard treatment options, the mortality rate has remained unchanged for decades, with a 5-year survival rate of around 50%. Oral cancer may be preceded by a premalignant, histologically dysplastic lesion, usually presenting clinically as a white or red patch in the mouth. However, only around 10-15% of patients diagnosed with oral dysplasia will develop oral cancer.
