A HOME/OFFICE SELF-SCREENING ORAL CANCER KIT

Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx are a major cause of death the United States, exceeding the death rates for cervical cancer, malignant melanoma and Hodgkin's disease. There are several reasons for the high mortality rate of oral cancer, but undoubtedly the most significant factor is delayed diagnosis. UCSF investigators have developed a kit that will allow members of the general public to perform an intra-oral self-examinations for the purpose of identify malignancies and pre-malignancies in the oral cavity. Each kit includes a) a vial of toluidine blue (a stain capable of detecting neoplastic lesions in the oral cavity), b) a disposable mouth mirror, and c) a color pamphlet containing before-and-after photographs of oral ulcers (including false positives), detailed kit instructions, and general information regarding oral cancer. This easy-to-use self-screening oral cancer kit is designed to raise awareness of oral cancer and to allow the general population to perform comprehensive self-examinations leading to early detection and increased survival rates.

If you would like to receive further information about this technology and potential licensing opportunities, please contact:

Michael Karasik
Administrative Manager
(415) 353-4472 phone
(415) 348-1579 fax
Michael Karasik@ucsf.edu

Reference: OTM Case #SF03-011