Oral cancer, often referred to as a “silent killer,” affects over 3,200 Canadians each year, and shockingly, one in two patients will die within five years, even with advancements in treatment.

Dr. Catherine Poh’s firsthand experience with oral cancer during her decade-long dental practice deeply influenced her career path. Witnessing her patients struggle with the disease inspired her to pursue a PhD in Oral Pathology and ultimately become a Professor of Oral Pathology at the UBC Faculty of Dentistry. Her work is driven by a passionate commitment to transforming the way oral cancer is diagnosed and treated.

“After working in the clinic, I saw how devastating oral cancer can be. I knew then that I wanted to spend more time building my research ability in pathology to help those patients,” says Dr. Poh.

The high mortality rate shows the critical importance of early intervention—a reality that fuels her innovative efforts in oral cancer detection.

One method Dr. Poh pioneered is the use of fluorescence visualization technology during oral cancer screening and surgery. This simple yet powerful method uses filtered blue light to accurately detect the edge of cancer tissue, significantly improving surgical outcomes by helping surgeons remove all cancerous cells, leading to a dramatic reduction in recurrence rates.

“Through this filtered blue light, it’s very easy to observe any change in the mucosa surfacelining the oral cavity,” says Dr. Poh. “If it is normal, we will see green. If not, we would see a loss of green, as it becomes darker.”

Donors play a vital role in fuelling Dr. Poh’s work through the Dr. Catherine Poh Cancer Research Fund.

“For research, you always need a lot of funding support,” says Dr. Poh. “I’m quite lucky to have had this continuation of funding, thanks to donors. Philanthropic support is critical to our research.”

Dr. Poh’s research with the Faculty of Dentistry exemplifies FORWARD, the campaign for UBC’s dedication to advancing healthy lives. Donor support has enabled her to pioneer innovative solutions to some of the field’s toughest challenges. Recognizing the barriers to early detection, she adapted the cervical “pap smear” concept to screen for oral cancer, bringing life-saving diagnostics closer to those who need them most.

“With this simple method, adapted from gynecology cervical cancer screening, we brush across the tissue surface to get some cells,” says Dr. Poh. “This can be performed by any physician or nurse, which is especially beneficial in remote rural areas that may not have a dentist in their community,” says Dr. Poh.

Another oral cancer detection method Dr. Poh uses is genome sequencing to identify high-risk patients for timely intervention. By analyzing tissue samples from national surgical trials, she aims to identify key changes oral tissue undergoes in the transition from pre-cancer to cancer.

“Through the genomic study, we can identify key events—maybe even prescribe drug targets as well,” she explains. “That’s what inspired us to do more molecular studies so that we may identify each of the targets for early identification and intervention.”

Ultimately, Dr. Poh envisions all these innovations as part of a comprehensive oral cancer program, from screening to management.

Dr. Catherine Poh’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and patient care promises a future where oral cancer is swiftly detected and effectively treated. With donor support, her groundbreaking work is transforming the fight against this silent killer.