New Tongue Cancer Subtypes Revealed by DNA Fingerprints

A recent study looked at the DNA of people with mouth cancer to find hidden patterns. Researchers used data from many patients, focusing on those whose tumors were not linked to smoking, drinking or HPV infection. They found that the way cancer cells change their DNA depends on where in the mouth the tumor appears and what risk factors a person has. When they compared patients who smoked with those who did not, they saw different DNA “signatures. ” One particular pattern, called SBS16, appeared mostly in tongue cancers of smokers and drinkers. This shows that smoking can leave a unique mark on the cancer’s genome, especially in certain locations.The team also identified two new groups of tongue cancers that have no obvious risk factors. One group showed a high level of normal, age‑related DNA changes – the kind that happen as we get older. The other group had many mutations linked to an enzyme called APOBEC, which normally helps fight viruses but can also damage DNA. Both of these new groups carried specific genes that drive cancer growth and had distinct patterns of gene activity. Unlike cancers linked to smoking or HPV, these tumors seemed to dodge the immune system and responded strongly to signals from microbes in the mouth. The research highlights that tongue cancer can develop through different internal mechanisms, even when traditional risk factors are absent. These findings suggest new ways to think about prevention and treatment for this growing type of cancer.