Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as Novel Prognostic Biomarkers to Predict Disease Progression, Survival Duration,...

Oral cancer is the most common subtype of head and neck cancer, occupying a large proportion of all cancer patients in India. Since it is a non-communicable disease, it does not spread from person to person. The root of oral cancer development lies in the risk factors responsible for the disease. Addiction to tobacco and alcohol are the primary risk factors, followed by genetic and environmental factors. The gold standard treatment option for oral cancer includes the surgical excision of the tumor following the flap reconstruction for functional rehabilitation. Apart from this, help of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy could be taken depending upon the disease condition. When patients get affected with the disease and visit the hospital, the primary concern of patients involves the course of disease progression, survival duration after the treatment, and the chance of recurrence of the disease. Despite advancements in medical technology, it is still not possible to predict the progression of disease, survival duration, and recurrence rate in oral cancer. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are novel biomarkers belonging to the family of the proteinases and are known to be involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs could be good predictors of disease progression, survival duration, and recurrence rate as the molecular changes appear in the body before the physical changes. By predicting the disease progression, survival duration, and recurrence rate of patients, it will become easy to manage the disease and improve the quality of life of the patients. MMPs can facilitate the regular monitoring of patients for changes in the tumor microenvironment, which can help monitor metastasis. In this review, we highlighted the various types of MMPs and their role in oral cancer. We also aim to integrate all the MMP data into a single molecular pathway so that scattered data can be observed as a useful information tool for further research.