Roles of miR-181 Family Members in OSCC: Implications for Therapy and Diagnostics

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common and aggressive form of head and neck cancer, frequently associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA transcripts that play significant roles in cancer initiation and progression. In this study, we focused on the miR-181 family members' influence on OSCC tumorigenesis and progression, focusing on their distinct biological functions and regulatory mechanisms in OSCC-specific contexts. Attention was given to the potential of these transcripts as biomarkers, considering their differential expression in OSCC tissues and biofluids such as plasma, serum, and saliva. Alterations in salivary miR-181 levels have been correlated with different stages of oral lesion progression, underscoring their utility as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and risk stratification. Moreover, we discuss the implications of miR-181 family modulation on biological processes in preclinical OSCC studies, highlighting their involvement in cancer hallmarks, including invasion, migration, metastasis, radio- and chemotherapy resistance. These findings underscore the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of the miR-181 family in OSCC management.