New frontiers in O-MFS: omic-maxillofacial surgery toward a translational approach to patient care

The integration of omics sciences into maxillofacial surgery marks a transformative step toward a new model of personalized and translational patient care. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics are reshaping the understanding and management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), one of the most challenging malignancies in the maxillofacial region due to its biological heterogeneity and poor prognosis. Omics sciences offer unprecedented insight into the molecular landscape of these tumors, allowing the identification of specific biomarkers that predict patient outcomes and guide tailored surgical strategies. A landmark study by Ribeiro et al. demonstrated the clinical value of a nine-gene multi-omics signature capable of distinguishing HNSCC patients with markedly different survival rates, independent of metastasis status. This signature integrates copy number alterations, gene expression profiles, and methylation patterns linked to key cellular processes such as DNA repair, cytoskeletal dynamics, and immune response. The concept of "Omic-Maxillofacial Surgery" (O-MFS) envisions a future where molecular data complement anatomical, pathological, and functional criteria to refine surgical planning, intraoperative decision-making, and postoperative surveillance. Despite challenges related to data complexity, clinical validation, and cost, this emerging approach promises to revolutionize maxillofacial oncology by enabling more accurate patient stratification and truly personalized surgical care.