Background: \- Cancer of the mouth and throat is one of the most common cancers in Taiwan. This cancer develops over several years, beginning as white or red patches in the mouth or throat that become growths. It can also cause a condition that leads to rigidity of the cheeks. The growths can be identified when a doctor looks into a person s mouth. It is currently not clear why some people with abnormal growths progress to cancer while others do not. Researchers want to better understand why some patients with early abnormal growths get late abnormal growths. They also want to understand why some people get abnormal growths again, even after they receive treatment. Objectives: \- To understand why some people with precancerous lesions in their mouth develop cancer while others do not. Eligibility: \- Adults 21 years and older, some with abnormal growths in the mouth, some without any, and some with head and neck cancer. Design: * Participants will visit a hospital in Taiwan 2 times. * At the first visit, participants will answer questions about their health, lifestyle, and family medical history. A doctor will examine the participant s mouth and take a small piece of any growth they see. They will do this with a brush. They will also photograph the participant s mouth. Participants will also give blood and saliva samples, plus a small sample of a mouth rinse. * Participants who are diagnosed with a late abnormal growth that is not cancer will return for a second visit. They will answer the same questions and undergo the same procedures as at the first study.
Age range
21 Years – 100 Years
Sex
ALL
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The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Progression to dysplasia/cancer in participants with oral precursors.
Timeframe: Follow-up visits every 6 months for 5 years