Effect of in situ immunization with vidutolimod in an oral leukoplakia model

Leukoplakia is the most common premalignancy in the oral cavity, with the syndrome of white patches or spots forming inside the mouth. The risk factors include chronic irritation such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and chewing betel nuts. The majority of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) arise from oral leukoplakia. However, leukoplakia is insufficiently researched and both diagnosing and treating oral leukoplakia are still problematic issues; with diagnosis being highly subjective and treatments (e.g., watchful waiting, conservative drug therapies, and surgical removal) possessing limited efficacy. There are no biomarkers specific for leukoplakia and the diagnosis of leukoplakia highly depends on the pathologist’s analysis of the collected biopsy, which can introduce a lot of variances. Thus, further understanding and an effective therapy for leukoplakia are still highly desirable to lower the risk of recurrence and malignant transformation to oral leukoplakia.