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Published on: October 7, 2025
MicroRNA Deregulations in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Dan Chen1, Robert J Cabay2, Yi Jin3
1Center for Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois USA. ; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou, Guangdong China.
Objectives:
Head and neck/oral cancer, predominantly head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is the sixth most common cancer in the world. While substantial advances have been made to define the genomic alterations associated with head and neck/oral cancer, most studies are focused on protein coding genes. The aim of this article is to review the current literature on identified genomic aberrations of non-coding genes (e.g., microRNA) in head and neck/oral cancer (HNOC), and their contribution to the initiation and progression of HNOC.
Material And Methods:
A comprehensive review of the available literature relevant to microRNA deregulation in HNSCC/HNOC, was undertaken using PubMed, Medline, Scholar Google and Scopus. Keywords for the search were: microRNA and oral cancer, microRNA and squamous cell carcinoma, microRNA deregulation and oral cancer, microRNA and carcinogenesis in the head and neck/oral cavity. Only full length articles in the English language were included.
Results:
We recently identified a panel of microRNA deregulations that were consistently observed in HNSCC [Chen et al., Oral Oncol. 2012;48(8):686-91], including 7 consistently up-regulated microRNAs (miR-21, miR-7, miR-155, miR-130b, miR-223, miR-34b), and 4 consistently down-regulated microRNAs (miR-100, miR-99a, miR-125b, miR-375). In this review, we will first provide an overview on microRNA and HNSCC. We will then provide a comprehensive review on the roles of microRNA deregulations in HNSCC. The functional significance of the identified HNSCC-associated microRNAs and a number of other relevant microRNAs (e.g., miR-138, miR-98, miR-137, miR-193a and miR-218) will be discussed in detail.
Conclusions:
Based on current literature, microRNA deregulation plays a major role in head and neck/oral cancer.
Insights
MicroRNA deregulation is a significant factor in head and neck/oral cancer (HNOC) development. This review highlights key microRNAs involved in HNOC initiation and progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Head and neck/oral cancer (HNOC), primarily head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is a global health concern.
- Genomic alterations are crucial in HNOC, but research often overlooks non-coding genes like microRNAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on genomic aberrations of non-coding genes, specifically microRNAs, in HNOC.
- To understand the role of microRNA deregulation in the initiation and progression of HNOC.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus.
- Searches focused on microRNAs and their deregulation in HNSCC and oral cavity carcinogenesis.
- Inclusion criteria were full-length English articles.
Main Results:
- A panel of consistently deregulated microRNAs in HNSCC was identified, including upregulated (miR-21, miR-7, miR-155, miR-130b, miR-223, miR-34b) and downregulated (miR-100, miR-99a, miR-125b, miR-375) examples.
- The review discusses the functional significance of these and other relevant microRNAs (e.g., miR-138, miR-98, miR-137, miR-193a, miR-218) in HNSCC.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNA deregulation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of head and neck/oral cancer.
- Further research into microRNA functions can offer new therapeutic strategies for HNOC.
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