What Is APG-157, and Is It an Oral Cancer Treatment?
A plant-based drug called APG-157 has shown signs of helping patients fight oral and oropharyngeal cancers, according to a phase I clinical trial led by the University of California at Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
APG-157 is an investigational drug made from plant compounds, mainly curcumin from turmeric. It is not an approved treatment for oral cancer and is available only through clinical trials. A small 2020 trial showed it was absorbed and well tolerated and changed some markers of inflammation in saliva, but it was not designed to show whether the drug helps people with cancer. Our office does not provide APG-157 or any other investigational cancer therapy.
What did the 2020 trial test?
Researchers at UCLA ran a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial with 25 people: 13 healthy volunteers and 12 people with oral cancer. Participants received APG-157 or a placebo, given by mouth every hour for three hours. The researchers measured blood and saliva before and up to 24 hours after. [1]
Phase 1 trials are the first step in human testing. Their job is to check safety and how the body handles a drug, not whether it treats the disease.
What did it find?
Absorption. Curcumin and related compounds reached the bloodstream, with levels peaking at about three hours. Curcumin taken as an ordinary supplement is poorly absorbed, which is the problem this drug was designed to address.
Safety. Heart tracings and blood tests showed no toxicity during the short trial.
Inflammation markers. In participants with cancer, several inflammatory proteins (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8) were lower in saliva.
Mouth bacteria. One group of bacteria, Bacteroidetes, was reduced in saliva in participants with cancer.
Tumor tissue. In one participant, tumor tissue showed changes suggesting more immune cells were being drawn to the tumor. [1]
The authors suggested APG-157 might one day be tested alongside immunotherapy. That is a hypothesis for later trials.
Where does APG-157 research stand now?
As of October 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov lists a phase 2 trial of APG-157 before surgery or other treatment for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer (active, no longer recruiting), a phase 2 trial in oral dysplasia (precancerous changes, recruiting), and a planned phase 3 trial in locally advanced head and neck cancer (not yet recruiting). [2] Results from these trials will say far more than the 2020 study can.
Should you take curcumin or turmeric supplements?
The trial tested a specific drug formulation, not over-the-counter turmeric. Don't take supplements in place of, or alongside, cancer treatment without asking your oncology team first. Some supplements can interact with chemotherapy and other medicines.
What is our role around cancer treatment?
My role is dental care and coordination with your medical team, not cancer treatment. That means preparing the mouth before chemotherapy or radiation, managing problems such as dry mouth during and after treatment, and staying in contact with your oncologist. Learn more about dental care around head and neck cancer. If you are interested in a clinical trial, your oncologist is the right person to ask.
If you have a mouth sore or patch that hasn't healed in two weeks, have it examined. Read about oral cancer screening, or contact our office at 904-398-1549.
Sources
Basak SK, Bera A, Yoon AJ, et al. A randomized, phase 1, placebo-controlled trial of APG-157 in oral cancer demonstrates systemic absorption and an inhibitory effect on cytokines and tumor-associated microbes. Cancer. 2020;126(8):1668-1682. doi:10.1002/cncr.32644 (retrieved via PubMed)
ClinicalTrials.gov. APG-157 studies: NCT05312710, NCT05865028, NCT07667296. Status retrieved October 6, 2026.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. His role is dental care and coordination with your medical team. He does not provide cancer treatment. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.
Can an Oral Splint Reduce Tourette Syndrome Tics?
Possibly, for some people, but the evidence is very early. In a small 2019 study from Japan, a custom splint worn over the back teeth reduced tics in most of the 22 people who tried it, and the benefit lasted for months in some. The study had no comparison group, so a placebo effect can't be ruled out. Oral splints are not an established treatment for Tourette syndrome, and our office does not offer them for that purpose.
What did the study do?
Researchers at Osaka University Dental Hospital and collaborators fitted 22 people with Tourette syndrome, 14 under age 20 and 8 adults, with a custom-made splint covering the molars on both sides. The splint slightly increased the space between the upper and lower back teeth when biting. Participants rated their own tics on a standard self-report scale before and after wearing the splint, and the team also reviewed video recordings. [1]
What did it find?
Right away, average motor tic scores fell by about 30% and vocal tic scores by about 43%.
16 of the 22 participants improved on both measures.
Some participants kept the improvement after more than 100 days of use, and younger patients tended to do better over time. [1]
The researchers suggested that changing the signals from the jaw-closing muscles might affect the brain circuits involved in tics. That idea has not been tested directly.
What are the limits?
Only 22 people.
No control group and no blinding. Everyone knew they were getting the splint, and tics were largely self-reported. The authors themselves noted a possible placebo effect and called for further studies. [1]
Published as a short research letter, not a full trial.
How is Tourette syndrome usually treated?
Many people with Tourette syndrome have tics that don't interfere with daily life and need no treatment. When tics cause problems, the main options are behavioral therapy, especially Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), and medications, which can help but don't eliminate tics and can have side effects. [2] These decisions belong with a neurologist or physician who treats Tourette syndrome.
What do oral splints normally do?
Dentists most often use splints, sometimes called night guards, to protect teeth from clenching and grinding and to ease some jaw muscle and joint problems. A splint that changes your bite should be made and monitored by a dentist, because a poorly fitted appliance worn for long periods can shift teeth.
What should you do if you're interested?
Talk with the physician who manages your or your child's Tourette syndrome. If a splint is ever recommended as part of a study or treatment plan, your dentist can check your teeth and jaw before and during use. If you have questions about your own teeth or jaw, contact our office at 904-398-1549.
Sources
Murakami J, Tachibana Y, Akiyama S, et al. Oral splint ameliorates tic symptoms in patients with Tourette syndrome. Mov Disord. 2019;34(10):1577-1578. doi:10.1002/mds.27819 (retrieved via PubMed; full text via PubMed Central)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of Tourette syndrome. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.