Research Progress of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin Family in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh leading cause of mortality among malignant tumors globally. Patients face a poor prognosis and low five-year survival rate due to late-stage diagnosis, high recurrence rate, and metastasis rate. Calcium ion channels are critically involved in tumorigenesis, development, and metastasis, participating in mechanisms such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. Among these channels, the transient receptor potential melastatin ion channel (TRPM) has been rapidly studied in HNSCC in recent years. Evidence suggests that TRPM channels play both promoting and suppressing roles in the progression of HNSCC, highlighting their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets. This review summarizes the research findings of the TRPM family in the field of HNSCC, providing new insights into prognosis and targeted molecular therapy.