The promising impact of molecular profiling on treatment strategies in oral cancers

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2017 Sep;118(4):242-247. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2017.05.004. Epub 2017 May 30.

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major cause of cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. Although OSCC may develop from easily accessible oral preneoplastic lesions (OPLs), no intervention has been reported so far that reduces the rate of malignant transformation. A comprehensive molecular characterization of oral carcinogenesis may help refining treatment strategies both in patients with OPLs and OSCC. Herein, we review main molecular alterations occurring at different steps during oral carcinogenesis and show how molecularly-based medicine and surgery may impact the outcome of OSCC in the future.

Keywords: Molecular classification; Oral premalignant lesion; Oral squamous cell carcinomas; Precision medicine; Precision surgery; Treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • Gene Expression Profiling* / methods
  • Humans
  • Margins of Excision
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Mouth Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Mouth Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oral Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Precision Medicine / methods
  • Precision Medicine / trends*
  • Transcriptome / physiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor