Unraveling the Genetic Web: H-Ras Expression and Mutation in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Systematic Review

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a commonly occurring malignancy with complex genetic alterations contributing to its development. The H-Ras, a proto-oncogene, becomes an oncogene when mutated and has been implicated in various cancers. This systematic review aims to research to what extent H-Ras expression and mutation contribute to the development and progression of OSCC, and how does this molecular alteration impacts the clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with OSCC.

A thorough electronic scientific literature search was carried out in PUBMED, SCOPUS, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases from 2007 to 2021. The search strategy yielded 120 articles. Following aggregation and filtering all results through our inclusion and exclusion criteria total 9 articles were included in our literature review. It has also been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023485202).

It was found that mutations in the Ras gene commonly reported in hotspots at codons 12, 13, and 61 resulting in the activation of downstream signaling pathways causing abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth. This systematic review has shown an increased prevalence of H-Ras mutation in well-differentiated OSCC and also the prevalence of H-Ras mutation in individuals engaging in multiple risk behaviors, particularly chewing tobacco, demonstrated a significant association with a higher prevalence of H-Ras positivity.

This review sheds light on the prevalence of H-Ras mutations, their association with clinical characteristics, and their potential implications for OSCC prognosis. It also enhances our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that underlie OSCC and paves the way for further research into targeted treatments based on H-Ras alterations.