Molecular Pathogenesis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma : Implications for Therapy

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 14 - 32
• Main Authors: Choi, S., Myers, J.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SAGE Publications 01.01.2008; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - therapy; Environment; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Genes, Tumor Suppressor - physiology; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic Therapy; Humans; Molecular Biology; molecular targeted therapy; Mouth Neoplasms - genetics; Mouth Neoplasms - therapy; multistep carcinogenesis; oncogene; Oncogenes - physiology; oral squamous cell carcinoma; tumor suppressor gene; multistep carcinogenesis; oral squamous cell carcinoma; molecular targeted therapy; oncogene; tumor suppressor gene
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/154405910808700104

The development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a multistep process requiring the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations, influenced by a patient’s genetic predisposition as well as by environmental influences, including tobacco, alcohol, chronic inflammation, and viral infection. Tumorigenic genetic alterations consist of two major types: tumor suppressor genes, which promote tumor development when inactivated; and oncogenes, which promote tumor development when activated. Tumor suppressor genes can be inactivated through genetic events such as mutation, loss of heterozygosity, or deletion, or by epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation or chromatin remodeling. Oncogenes can be activated through overexpression due to gene amplification, increased transcription, or changes in structure due to mutations that lead to increased transforming activity. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of oral carcinogenesis and the use of biologic therapy to specifically target molecules altered in OSCC. The rapid progress that has been made in our understanding of the molecular alterations contributing to the development of OSCC is leading to improvements in the early diagnosis of tumors and the refinement of biologic treatments individualized to the specific characteristics of a patient’s tumor.