Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tissues: A Comprehensive Review for Oral Healthcare Providers

Abstract

North Americans in 2004 were projected to die from oral and pharyngeal cancer at a rate of 1.2 per hour. Oral healthcare providers can be instrumental in reducing the incidence of oral and pharyngeal premalignant and malignant lesions by identifying patients with high-risk behavior, educating their patients about the consequences of their high-risk behavior, and by early detection of premalignant and malignant conditions. The fact only 34% of the cancers of the oral cavity and larynx are localized at the time of diagnosis and evidence that at least one third of the patients diagnosed with an oral or pharyngeal malignancy have undergone oral cancer screening within the past three years suggests the current protocol for the early detection of pre-malignant or malignant changes appears to be deficient. To facilitate early diagnosis, oral healthcare providers must take into consideration the capriciousness of oral cancer and must be familiar with the availability and application of diagnostic modalities beyond conventional visual inspection and palpation of oral soft tissues. This article provides a comprehensive review of the disease for healthcare professionals.

VEGF expression and angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical and morphometric study

“…Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most malignant tumor of the oral cavity followed by adenocarcinomas and other types of malignant tumors and is one of the top ten cancers with a higher incidence in older male [1]. Besides extensive amount of research into the development and treatment of oral cancers over the last three decades, only a modest improvement of the 5 years survival rate was obtained, remaining at \50%.…”

Enhancement of erbB2 and erbB3 expression during oral oncogenesis in diabetic rats

“…Among the known factors implicated as potential ''initiators'' and/or ''promoters'' of cancer are: tobacco, alcohol, solar and ionizing radiation, occupational carcinogens, environmental pollutants, medications, infectious agents, and nutrients (Bsoul et al 2005). Oral cancer is considered as a result of a multi-hit process, which involves a number of aberrant genetic events.…”

“…Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral malignancies, accounting for over 90% of them (Bsoul et al 2005). Among the known factors implicated as potential ''initiators'' and/or ''promoters'' of cancer are: tobacco, alcohol, solar and ionizing radiation, occupational carcinogens, environmental pollutants, medications, infectious agents, and nutrients (Bsoul et al 2005).…”

Endostatin induces proliferation of oral carcinoma cells but its effect on invasion is modified by the tumor microenvironment

“…Despite of new treatments, about 50% of patients die within 5 years [2]. It has been clear about 30 years that the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects tumor growth, invasion and metastasis [3].…”