Acyl homoserine lactone inhibitors for oral squamous cell carcinoma – Novel insights and therapeutic perspective

Abstract

Different therapy approaches are used to treat oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), however, cancer's rising prevalence owing to recurrence and its dismal outlook has resulted in a low 5-year survival rate. By promoting cell proliferation, advancement, and development, oral microbiota facilitates angiogenesis and carcinoma formation and has a tight association with OSCC. N-Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are the main quorum sensing (QS) molecules that coordinate virulence factors and toxins into the host epithelial cells and encourage biofilm formation. In addition to being implicated in periodontal and endodontic infections of the oral cavity, AHL-facilitated QS is also thought to be crucial for OSCC growth and metastasis. The AHL induces carcinogenesis by repressing the NF-κB signalling pathway through PPARs inhibition and IκB phosphorylation. The potential for using small-molecule AHL-binding inhibitors as therapeutics against infections that produce biofilms is being investigated.