Oral submucous fibrosis is an oral health condition which can develop into Oral Cancer. The condition isn’t widely known, and treatment options are limited. However, new research has identified a specific protein which appears to play a key role in hastening the progression of the disease. The researchers believe that targeting this protein can be an effective treatment option.
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a little-known health condition which causes a range of problems to the mouth. The condition has proven difficult to treat.
However, new research has identified and uncovered a type of protein that appears to be playing a negative role in the development of the condition [1].
This is a very positive finding. It could revolutionize treatment for those that have the condition, whilst improving their quality of life and prognosis.
What is Oral Submucous Fibrosis?
OSF is a chronic health condition that affects the oral cavity, pharynx, and in some cases, the esophagus [2].
The condition involves inflammation of the submucosal tissues, which results in restricted mouth opening [2]. Therefore, it can cause a range of health problems.
From a dental perspective, having a burning sensation in the mouth is common, whilst the condition can worsen oral health. Moreover, it is common for those with OSF to have difficulties with speaking and chewing [2].
There are limited treatment options available for OSF. Treatment tends to have the objective of lessening the impact of symptoms and slowing down its progression [2].
In many cases, OSF will develop into oral cancer. Therefore, it is important for health professionals to be aware when their patient has this condition.
The Research
The research was carried out by a team from Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in China. Their findings have been published in the International Journal of Oral Science [1].
The researchers noted that reducing the threat of oral cancer developing is crucial. They mentioned that OSF causes an excessive buildup of collagen, which disrupts tissue function [1].
They wanted to find a way of slowing down this collagen buildup. The researchers noted that the exact molecular mechanisms behind its abnormal accumulation remained obscure [1].
The team carried out a range of types of analysis. These included RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence assays, and animal models [1].
This combination yielded the finding that a particular protein played a key role in hastening the buildup of collagen.
This protein was identified as Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) [1]. This was a key finding and opened avenues for further analysis.
The team found that this protein promoted the abnormal accumulation of collagen [1]. Their analysis showed that COMP played a crucial role in hastening collagen buildup, which can speed up the development of oral cancer.
The researchers noted that collagen initially accumulates in the lamina propria – which is a thin layer of connective tissue that sits outside the submucosa [1].
Then, as the disease progresses, the collagen penetrates the lamina propria and progresses deeper into the submucosa [1]. Therefore, they could tell that COMP was crucial to this process.
However, their analysis showed that when COMP is absent, the buildup of collagen slowed significantly [1]. This underlines the damage of COMP, as well as the benefits of its absence.
Overall, the researchers noted that by targeting COMP during treatment, the progression of the condition can be slowed down. Therefore, this would be an effective strategy of treating OSF [1].
Further research needed
The researchers were pleased with the outcome of this research. They were capable of creating a potential strategy for treating OSF in the future.
While the findings of this research are positive, the researchers did note though that due to the complexity of OSF, further research is certainly required [1].
They believe that this further research will need to revolve around clarifying COMP’s role and analyzing its potential role as a therapeutic target [1].
Dr. Feng Guo was one of the authors of the study. He spoke about the findings, saying that the “discovery of COMP’s role in OSF opens new doors for targeted therapies” [3].
Continuing, Guo says that intervening in the interactions between COMP and collagen “may be able to halt or even reverse the pathological collagen accumulation, providing a promising new avenue for treating OSF and improving patient quality of life” [3].
The aim is for a specific treatment that targets COMP to be developed. Therefore, this would be able to slow the progression of the disease and maximize treatment outcomes. This research is hopefully an important milestone on the way to this eventual goal.
Thinking points…
[1] We mentioned above about the threat of oral cancer. Not many people know that dentists are trained to look for the signs of conditions like oral cancer. Therefore, this is an example of why it is so important for us all to visit the dentist for a check-up regularly. At a check-up, your dentist will be able to take a look at your overall oral health. We recommend booking an appointment now!
[2] Do you know anyone with oral submucous fibrosis? As we discussed earlier, it is a condition that many people are unaware of. But perhaps you have a loved one or a friend with it? If so, you could share this article with them, as it may give them some hope for treatment. We would love you to share this article now!
What we offer at Taradale Dental
Taradale Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At our Calgary dental clinic, we provide a range of services for our patients.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary dental clinic at least twice per year for a regular dental check-up. At these check-ups, we provide a comprehensive review of a patient’s oral health. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For example, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To strengthen your oral health, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly.
Here at Taradale Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, teeth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
Moreover, the fees of our treatments at our Calgary dental clinic Taradale Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures transparent and fair pricing, with no hidden costs.
We hope to see you soon at our Taradale Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://taradaledental.ca/!
References
[1] Xiong, Y., Li, X., Sun, B., et al. (2025). Abnormal collagen deposition mediated by cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis. International Journal of Oral Science. 17 (25). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41368-025-00355-x.
[2] Shih, Y-H., Wang, T-H., Shieh, T-M., & Tseng, Y-H. (2019). Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Review on Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 20 (12): p2940. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20122940.
[3] West China Hospital of Sichuan University. (2025). Revealing the key player in oral submucous fibrosis: Could COMP be the solution?. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-revealing-key-player-oral-submucous.html. Last accessed: 3rd May 2025.
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