Abstract
A significant amount of research indicates that the cyclooxygenase/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pathway of inflammation contributes to the development and progression of a variety of cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx (OSCC). Although there have been promising results from studies examining the utility of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of OSCC, this strategy has been met with only variable success and these drugs are also associated with toxicities that make them inappropriate for some OSCC patients. Improved inflammation-targeting therapies require continued study of the mechanisms linking inflammation and progression of OSCC. In this review, a synopsis of OSCC biology will be provided, and recent insights into inflammation related mechanisms of OSCC pathobiology will be discussed. The roles of prostaglandin E2 and cluster of differentiation factor 147 (CD147) will be presented, and evidence for their interactions in OSCC will be explored. Through continued investigation into the protumourigenic pathways of OSCC, more treatment modalities targeting inflammation-related pathways can be designed with the hope of slowing tumour progression and improving patient prognosis in patients with this aggressive form of cancer.
Highlights
Oral cancer include malignancy of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 90% of which are squamous cell carcinoma
Further support of the role of inflammation was provided by a study that found that COX-2 and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was significantly expressed in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines and expression was reduced by treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib [51]
In order to reduce the incidence of OSCC, health professionals must educate those at risk about the predisposing factors and habits associated with cancer, the early signs of the disease, and the complications of delaying seeking medical advice [186]
Summary
Oral cancer include malignancy of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 90% of which are squamous cell carcinoma. Oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a very aggressive neoplasm and is often diagnosed late in the disease. Extensive research has demonstrated a relationship between chronic inflammation and a variety of cancer types, including OSCC. In order to improve the prognosis of this aggressive form of cancer, it is important to increase our understanding of the mechanisms triggered by inflammation that support OSCC progression and poor patient outcomes. This review will provide a synopsis of the field’s current knowledge of OSCC biology, and will go on to summarise the mechanisms, by which inflammation contributes to disease progression and invasive behaviour, in this aggressive form of cancer
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