Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in Asia, but survival rates remain low, especially when the disease is diagnosed late. Even with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, there are limited options for advanced or recurring cases.

Our scientist, Yee Pei San, from the Translational Cancer Biology (TCB) Science Unit, is exploring new ways to treat it. Her research focuses on a protein called ADAR1, which helps cancer cells survive. Pei San and her team are developing a small molecule drug to block this protein,  a potential game changer in how we treat oral cancer.

“If we can block this protein, we might be able to stop the cancer from growing. This kind of targeted therapy could give patients a better chance at recovery, especially in cases where current treatments don’t work well,” she said.

Recently, Pei San received two awards at the ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Targeted Anticancer Therapies Asia Congress 2025 in Hong Kong; Best Poster and the Merit Travel Grant. It’s a sign that the research is not only relevant but also gaining international attention.

Pei San believes it’s important to focus on cancers that are more common in Asians, like oral cancer, which often get less attention because most cancer research is centred around Western populations.

But the journey hasn’t been easy. Like many scientists, Pei San has faced her fair share of setbacks. Experiments don’t always go as planned, and unexpected results often raise more questions than answers. But with a strong team and a clear focus, she has remained on track.

Currently, the TCB Science Unit is conducting preclinical tests to see if this new approach can effectively kill cancer cells. If successful, the next step is to move into clinical trials and eventually, to develop a treatment that could improve survival rates for oral cancer patients.

International recognition is a boost, but for Pei San, the motivation remains the same: to develop better treatment options and improve lives.

Help us turn research into real-world cancer solutions.