Involvement of Non-Coding RNAs in the Glucose Metabolic Reprogramming of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by frequent recurrence and metastasis, which poses a significant global health problem. One of the prominent hallmarks of cancer is glucose metabolic reprogramming, wherein glycolysis is preferred over oxidative phosphorylation for macromolecule biosynthesis and energy production, even in the presence of oxygen. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are defined as a class of RNAs that are not translated into proteins, which include microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs. Recent studies have found that ncRNAs are crucial in regulating glycolysis in OSCC, wherein they reshape the metabolic landscape by modulating the expression of glucose transporters, essential enzymes, and transcription factors, ultimately influencing tumorigenesis. This comprehensive review systematically summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in glucose metabolic reprogramming in OSCC, evaluates their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and identifies clinically relevant ncRNAs through an integrative analysis of patient-derived data. These insights provide a mechanistic understanding of the metabolic alterations that drive progression in OSCC, as well as knowledge that can facilitate the development of clinically translatable targeted interventions for this aggressive malignancy.