New Delhi: Indian scientists have discovered a gene mutation that may be responsible for causing oral cancer specifically in women. The finding comes from a study conducted in southern India, where many women chew tobacco in various forms.
The research was carried out by scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, and the BRIC–National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani.
They worked along with doctors from Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER), Kolar. The team focused only on female patients to understand how oral cancer behaves in women and how treatment can be improved for them.
The study, led by Professor Tapas K Kundu, also used artificial intelligence to examine tumour tissues. This digital analysis showed that the women could be divided into two groups, each with a different immune response to cancer.
India has one of the highest numbers of oral cancer cases in the world. While most studies have focused on men, researchers say women have been overlooked — even though cases in women are increasing, especially in southern and northeastern states. This rise is linked to chewing tobacco-filled betel quid, gutka and other products.
For the study, scientists collected tumour and blood samples from women diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma associated with gutka and betel chewing. A common habit among women in Kolar, Karnataka, called Kaddipudi, became a key focus.
Their findings, published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine, identified ten genes with strong mutations in these patients. Two genes — CASP8 and TP53 — showed heavy mutation, but researchers found that CASP8 acts as the main driver gene, meaning it strongly triggers the development of cancer. This is different from earlier studies mostly done on male patients.
Experts say that when CASP8 and TP53 mutations appear together, the disease becomes more aggressive and deadly. Researchers will now work to understand how exactly this new driver mutation works and how it interacts with TP53, hoping this knowledge can lead to better treatment options in the future.
A separate study published in ScienceDirect in February 2025 showed that screening for oral cancer in India remains very low. Only 1.2% of men and 0.9% of women undergo screening, despite the country having a very large number of cases. There is also a big difference in screening participation across states.
Researchers Dr Ayushi Jain and Dr Shalini Gupta from King George Medical University, Lucknow, say this is due to low awareness, weak early detection programmes and poor access to health services, especially in rural areas. They also warn that many cases are likely not recorded.
Tobacco continues to be the biggest risk factor. Around 29% of Indian adults use tobacco, and many start using it in their teenage years. Smokeless tobacco mixed in some traditional dental-care products also exposes people without their knowledge.
Experts say India needs nationwide and well-planned screening programmes, especially for young people under 30, as tobacco use begins early. They suggest using telemedicine, community visits, door-to-door awareness drives and local screening camps. Involving ASHA workers and trained volunteers could also help improve participation and ensure people with symptoms are referred to hospitals sooner.
