The two faces of autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anderson, Aisling; O'Sullivan, Jeff
• Is Part Of: Archives of oral biology. Volume 134(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Oral cancer -- Oral squamous cell carcinoma -- Oral malignancies -- Oral microbiome -- Autophagy -- Head and neck cancer; Mouth -- Periodicals; Mouth -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Dentistry -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.6005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9969

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To undertake a comprehensive review of the current knowledge and understanding of autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), focusing on putative roles in tumour suppression and survival along with the influence of this cell death pathway on the development of resistance to chemotherapeutic treatment. Design: Several well utilised databases (PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar) were searched for the relevant literature using terms and keywords including but not limited too; autophagy and cancer, autophagy and OSCC, tumour survival, autophagy and oral microbiome, autophagy immunogenicity, OSCC chemoresistance. Results: Up-regulation of autophagy has been shown to promote tumour cell survival in the tumour microenvironment while in healthy cells, autophagy induction acts to prevent severe DNA mutations that can lead to cancer. Cancers utilise the autophagy pathway to promote survival during the stress of chemotherapeutic treatment and can induce resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs Conclusion: The ambiguous role of autophagy within cancers is still problematic in clinical fields. Within OSCC understanding whether autophagy plays a preventive or causative role is essential and may be beneficial in determining how modulation of this pathway may impact on OSSC and oral cancer patients. Highlights: Comprehensive review of autophagy mechanisms. Role of autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Influence of HPV and the oral microbiome on autophagy in OSCC. Discussion of potential implications for autophagy modulation in OSCC. Autophagy as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in OSCC.