The goal of this observational study is to develop better ways to detect and predict major oral diseases, including oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay. This study will collect detailed oral health information and biological samples from adults with different oral health conditions and healthy participants to identify markers that may help doctors detect diseases earlier and predict how diseases may change over time. The main questions this study aims to answer are whether biological markers from saliva, mouth rinse samples, blood, or oral tissue samples can help identify people with oral diseases, whether these markers can predict future disease changes such as worsening gum disease, new or progressing tooth decay, or recurrence and spread of oral cancer, and whether combining clinical information with biological markers can improve disease detection and risk prediction. Participants will receive a standard oral health examination, provide information about their health history and oral health behaviors, provide biological samples when appropriate, and be followed over time through clinical visits, questionnaires, and health information collection. Researchers will compare findings among people with different oral health conditions and healthy participants to better understand disease-related changes and develop tools for earlier detection and prediction of oral disease outcomes.
Oral diseases, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), periodontal disease, and dental caries, are common conditions that can significantly affect oral health and quality of life. Early identification of individuals at risk and accurate prediction of disease progression are important for improving prevention, treatment planning, and long-term outcomes. However, current approaches mainly rely on clinical signs and symptoms, and there is still a need for reliable biological markers that can support earlier detection and better prediction of disease changes over time. This observational cohort study aims to establish a comprehensive clinical and biological resource for the discovery and evaluation of markers associated with major oral diseases. The study will combine standardized oral examinations, health information collection, biological sample collection, and long-term follow-up to investigate factors associated with disease presence, severity, progression, and treatment outcomes. Participants will undergo standardized oral health examinations and provide information related to their general health, oral health behaviors, and medical history. Biological samples, including saliva and mouth rinse samples, will be collected from participants to study changes associated with oral diseases. Additional samples, including blood samples, may be collected when appropriate. Oral lesion-related samples will only be collected from participants with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) when clinically indicated as part of their routine diagnostic or treatment procedures. Participants without OSCC, including those with periodontal disease, dental caries, or healthy oral conditions, will not undergo oral tissue biopsy for this study. Participants will be followed over time to collect information on changes in oral health status and clinically relevant outcomes. Follow-up assessments may include repeated clinical examinations, questionnaires, and biological sample collection according to the study plan. The collected clinical information and biological samples will be analyzed to identify markers that may help improve early detection, disease risk assessment, and prediction of future disease progression. The long-term goal of this study is to support the development of improved approaches for early detection and personalized risk assessment of major oral diseases. The clinical data and biological sample resources generated from this cohort may also support future research into the mechanisms underlying oral disease development and response to treatment.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
4,000
Standard of care treatment
Standard of care treatment with a composite filling material
All the necessary surgical procedures to remove the primary oral cancer tumour from the oral cavity, including the necessary dissection and plastic reconstructive surgery. All necessary adjunctive treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy and/or biological therapies.
Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
Diagnostic accuracy to detect oral diseases
The diagnostic accuracy will be measured as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Clinical diagnosis will be the reference standard and will be performed by calibrated examiners in accordance with international case-definition standards.
Time frame: At baseline assessment
Sensitivity to detect oral diseases
Sensitivity will be calculated using clinical diagnosis as the reference standard as defined by calibrated examiners in accordance with international case-definition standards
Time frame: At baseline assessment
Specificity to detect oral diseases
Specificity will be reported as the proportion of participants without oral diseases correctly classified by the test. The reference standard will be clinical diagnosis performed by calibrated examiners in accordance with international case definition standards.
Time frame: At baseline assessment
Hazard ratio of oral disease progression
The hazard ratio (HR) for oral disease progression will be estimated using survival analysis methods. The progression of oral disease will be assessed using longitudinal changes in standardized clinical parameters and tooth loss. The reference standard will be clinical diagnosis performed by calibrated examiners in accordance with international case definition standards.
Time frame: up to 48 months of follow-up
Hazard ratio of oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis
The hazard ratio (HR) for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis will be estimated using survival analysis methods. Metastasis will be assessed based on clinical and imaging evaluations during follow-up by calibrated examiners and following international standards.
Time frame: up to 48 months of follow-up
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