From molecular crosstalk to precision therapy: targeting ferroptosis and cuproptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Death Mechanisms

Background:

• Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) presents significant therapeutic challenges with poor patient prognosis.
• Conventional treatments for OSCC have limited efficacy.
• Emerging research highlights the roles of ferroptosis and cuproptosis in tumor biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and cuproptosis in OSCC.
• To delineate their roles in OSCC initiation, progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance.
• To explore the interplay between ferroptosis and cuproptosis and propose combination strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of ferroptosis and cuproptosis mechanisms.
• Analysis of their roles in OSCC development and treatment.
• Exploration of crosstalk and combination therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

• Ferroptosis and cuproptosis significantly impact OSCC metabolism, immune microenvironment, and resistance to therapy.
• These cell death pathways exhibit crosstalk via oxidative stress, metabolic, and signaling networks.
• Concurrent targeting strategies show promise for precision medicine.

Conclusions:

• Ferroptosis and cuproptosis are critical regulators in OSCC.
• Understanding their interplay is key to developing novel therapeutic approaches.
• Combination therapies targeting both modalities represent a promising future direction for OSCC treatment.