A Double Celebration: A/Prof Antonio’s Dual Success in Oral Cancer Research

A huge congratulations to Associate Professor Antonio Celentano and the Oral Medicine and Oral Cancer Group (OMOC) on two remarkable achievements!

Firstly, A/Prof Antonio’s article “Can a cup a day keep cancer away? A systematic review exploring the potential of coffee constituents in preventing oral squamous cell carcinoma” has been recognised as one of the top-viewed articles in Wiley's Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine — a testament to its global relevance and impact.

Secondly, after five years of dedication and collaboration with colleagues at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), A/Prof Antonio has co-authored a publication in Methods journal. Their study establishes the first standardised model for real-time, in vivo, microscopic screening of the oral mucosa for cancer at single-cell resolution, without the need for tissue harvest.

This study introduces:

• The first real-time in vivo murine oral digital biopsy at single-cell resolution
• The first prospective longitudinal oral diagnostics using confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) and targeted imaging agents
• A proven methodology for documenting progressive oral cancer in mice, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for early detection
• The potential for early, non-invasive OSCC diagnostics in clinical practice

The team developed and standardised high-resolution CLE imaging protocols, demonstrating that microscopic lesions, invisible to the naked eye, could be visualised, monitored, and correlated with histological abnormalities. This work is a significant step forward in redefining early oral cancer detection, minimising patient risk, reducing reliance on animal sacrifice, and fast-tracking translation to human clinical applications. Learn more about their research here: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/5dsp

Congratulations once again to A/Prof Antonio and the OMOC team for their exceptional contributions to oral cancer research!