Molecular and Genetic Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biomarkers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 864

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Guest Editor
Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Interests: SIBLING family of proteins; DSPP; oral cancer; MMPs
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers have emerged as significant global and public health challenges. For example, the mortality from oral cancers within the past half century remains atrociously high (over 50%), contrasting with considerable decreases in the mortality rates for cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, and melanoma within the same timeframe. This is despite technological advances on various fronts in the management of oral cancer patients. Furthermore, early diagnosis has been painfully slow when compared to the enhanced early detection of cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, and melanoma. This Special Issue provides an update on the current genetic and molecular biomarkers of the various subsets of oral cancers, including HPV-related oral cancers. In addition, this Special Issue provides a reference-friendly background on the roles of known etiologic/risk factors, current clinical diagnostic tools (including the roles of recently enhanced “liquid biomarkers”), pathogenic mechanisms (including recently identified progression indicators), and refined management philosophies for oral cancer patients. Enthusiastic researchers, academics, and clinicians within, but not limited to, the fields of nanotechnology, molecular biology, oncology, therapeutics, and diagnostic sciences are invited to submit relevant manuscripts to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Kalu U.E. Ogbureke
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • oral cancer
  • oropharyngeal cancer
  • biomarkers
  • liquid biopsy
  • genetic determinants

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 2297 KB  
Article
IL-1α Promotes Cancer Cell Migration and Is a Potential Prognostic Marker in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
by Rei Fukui, Shouhei Ogisawa, Akiko Yamada and Masatake Asano
Cancers 2025, 17(17), 2781; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17172781 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) has been linked to tumor progression in various cancer types; however, its role in oral cancer pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of IL-1α expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with a [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) has been linked to tumor progression in various cancer types; however, its role in oral cancer pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of IL-1α expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with a specific focus on its role in modulating cancer cell phenotype. Methods: Primary OSCC tissue specimens were collected from 104 patients and subjected to immunohistochemical analysis to assess IL-1α expression. OSCC cell lines were cultured for functional assays, and their protein and mRNA expressions were verified using western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The effects of IL-1α expression on OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and gene expression were subsequently examined. Results: IL-1α expression varied among OSCC tissues and cell lines both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, siRNA-mediated suppression of IL-1α in HSC3 cells impaired migration while leaving proliferation unaffected, highlighting its functional role in promoting cancer cell motility. Conclusions: Our in vivo and in vitro findings revealed varied IL-1α expression in OSCC and its association with a motile phenotype, suggesting that case-specific IL-1α assessment could hold prognostic value in oral cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Genetic Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma)
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