HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Choi, S. Articles by Myers, J.N. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Choi, S. Articles by Myers, J.N.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Implications for Therapy

Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 44, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA

^* corresponding author, jmyers{at}mdanderson.org

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.

KEY WORDS: oral squamous cell carcinoma • multistep carcinogenesis • oncogene • tumor suppressor gene • molecular targeted therapy