This study focuses on the development and characterization of a modified 4NQO-induced tongue tumour model of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in C57BL/6 mice. Unlike the conventional continuous 4NQO exposure for 16 weeks followed by a no-treatment phase, this protocol employs a thrice-weekly dosing schedule for 28 weeks. The strategic modification was designed to reduce 4NQO-associated toxicity and mortality while creating a therapeutic window for administering chemopreventive agents in an ad libitum setting. A dose optimization experiment comparing 50 ppm and 100 ppm concentrations of 4NQO revealed that 50 ppm yielded more consistent and reproducible tumour development, establishing it as the preferred dose for subsequent studies. To comprehensively understand disease progression, a sequential carcinogenesis study is being conducted, with animals being sacrificed at defined intervals to document the histopathological and molecular changes throughout the progression from premalignant lesions to invasive malignancies. With this refined and reproducible model in place, the current phase of research also explores the chemopreventive potential of polymeric black tea polyphenols (thearubigins), aiming to assess their efficacy and underlying mechanisms within a more physiologically relevant and experimentally controlled OSCC model.
Lab members: Ms Sakshi Anchan, Ms Pooja Kohinkar, Mr Yadnyesh Girish Bhandari, Mr Sanket Bhadale
Co-Investigators: Dr Arvind Ingle, Dr Rahul Thorat