Field Cancerisation in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Oral Pathology

Background:

• Field cancerisation describes molecular alterations in clinically normal tissue, increasing oral cancer risk due to carcinogen exposure.
• This phenomenon contributes to local recurrence and the development of second primary tumors after initial treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most frequently used biomarkers for oral cavity field cancerisation.
• To determine the prognostic significance of these biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
• Twenty-three articles were included after independent review and full-text analysis, with bias assessed using the JBI checklist.

Main Results:

• Commonly assessed biomarkers include Ki-67, p53, cyclin-D1, E-Cadherin, α-SMA, mi-RNAs, chromosomal polysomy, and gene methylations.
• Ki-67 and p53 were most frequently used, but Ki-67 demonstrated a more confirmed role in identifying field changes.
• Ki-67 is an established independent prognostic indicator for loco-regional control and disease-free survival.

Conclusions:

• Ki-67 is a valuable biomarker for oral cavity field cancerisation, offering prognostic information.
• Further prospective studies are necessary to fully elucidate the predictive role of various biomarkers for loco-regional recurrences and second primary oral cancers.