MicroRNA mediated signaling and metabolic reprogramming in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the most aggressive oral cancer type, with minimal survival rates resulting from metastases and disease recurrence. Early detection and innovative treatment approaches are required to limit metastases and improve survival rates. Dysregulated signaling affects a behavioral change in OSCC tumors, with alterations observed in tumor cell growth, proliferation, resistance to death etc. Aberrant signaling also plays an essential role in OSCC metabolic conditioning, helping tumors adapt to diverse host tissue microenvironments. Multiple miRNAs regulate signaling cascades in OSCC by controlling the expression of receptors, effectors and regulator genes. Therefore, the expression of specific miRNA in OSCC tumors can serve as diagnostic indictors as well as critical predictors for disease progression. In this review, we catalog miRNAs in OSCC with specific emphasis on their role in modulating signaling pathways associated with metabolic reprogramming.