Extracellular vesicles in oral squamous cell carcinoma: current progress and future prospect

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive malignancy with high incidence and low survival rates.
• Current OSCC diagnosis via biopsy is invasive and lacks timeliness.
• Existing OSCC treatments are often invasive with unpredictable outcomes, highlighting a need for less invasive methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the diagnosis, development, and treatment of OSCC.
• To explore EVs as less invasive diagnostic tools for OSCC.
• To discuss potential therapeutic applications of EVs in OSCC treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the involvement of EVs in OSCC.
• Analysis of EV mechanisms in OSCC tumorigenesis and treatment.
• Discussion of novel strategies involving EVs for OSCC management.

Main Results:

• EVs are implicated in intercellular communication, disease progression, and lesion status reflection in OSCC.
• EVs serve as promising, less invasive diagnostic markers for OSCC.
• EVs have well-studied mechanisms in OSCC tumorigenesis and therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

• EVs offer a less invasive approach for OSCC diagnosis.
• EV-based strategies, including engineered vesicles, present new avenues for OSCC treatment.
• Further research into EV mechanisms can enhance early detection and noninvasive treatment of OSCC.