Molecular concept in human oral cancer

Abstract

The incidence of oral cancer remains high in both Asian and Western countries. Several risk factors associated with development of oral cancer are now well-known, including tobacco chewing, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Cancerous risk factors may cause many genetic events through chromosomal alteration or mutations in genetic material and lead to progression and development of oral cancer through histological progress, carcinogenesis. Oral squamous carcinogenesis is a multistep process in which multiple genetic events occur that alter the normal functions of proto-oncogenes/oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Furthermore, these gene alterations can deregulate the normal activity such as increase in the production of growth factors (transforming growth factor-α [TGF-α], TGF-β, platelet-derived growth factor, etc.) or numbers of cell surface receptors (epidermal growth factor receptor, G-protein-coupled receptor, etc.), enhanced intracellular messenger signaling and mutated production of transcription factors (ras gene family, c-myc gene) which results disturb to tightly regulated signaling pathways of normal cell. Several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes have been implicated in oral cancer especially cyclin family, ras, PRAD-1, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p53 and RB1. Viral infections, particularly with oncogenic human papilloma virus subtype (16 and 18) and Epstein-Barr virus have tumorigenic effect on oral epithelia. Worldwide, this is an urgent need to initiate oral cancer research programs at molecular and genetic level which investigates the causes of genetic and molecular defect, responsible for malignancy. This approach may lead to development of target dependent tumor-specific drugs and appropriate gene therapy.

Comparing Effect of Annonaceae & Emetine Nanoparticles on NFĸB p65 Pathway in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma (scc-25)

“…The classic therapeutic strategies to treat caners relay on attacking the differentiated cancer cells, leaving some cancer cells that has capability of self -renewal and eventually relapse of the cancer itself [27] . Interestingly, More than 47% of current anticancer drugs on the market are natural products and more than 25,000 identified phytochemicals have been shown to possess potent anticancer activities [28] .…”

Serum ceruloplasmin as cancer marker in oral pre-cancers and cancers

“…Approximately 80,000 new cases of oral cancers are diagnosed each year, mainly, due to consumption of different forms of tobacco products such as gutkha, quid, snuff or, misri. [ 8 ] Annually, 1,30,000 people succumb to oral cancers which translates into approximately 14 deaths per hour in India. [ 9 ] The most commonly encountered oral neoplasm is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and it accounts for 95% of all oral cancers reported.…”

Liquid Biopsy in Oral Cancer

“…Oral carcinogenesis, characterized by several genetic disorders, is a complex multistep process that disturbs cell signaling, growth, survival, motility, angiogenesis, and cell cycle control [ 11 ]. Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes such as CCND1 , EGFR , RAS , VEGF , p53 , CDKN2A , STAT3 , and Rb have been implicated in oral cancer [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Oral cancer is preventable and curable in early stages, but the majority of cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) are not diagnosed until advanced stages, a point at which therapy is less effective and the prognosis is worse [ 14 , 15 ].…”