Development and Progression of Oral Cancer: The Role of Proteins

Oral cancer is the most common and vigorous type of cancer. It is one of the major problems in India. High pervasiveness, hindered diagnosis and limited access to healthcare systems contribute to high mortality rate. This review explores the etiologic and pathophysiologic nature of oral cancer, the role of major proteins such as tumour suppressor proteins, oncogenes, cell adhesion molecules and salivary protein biomarkers for early detection, therapeutic targets and the role of pharmacogenomics which can reduce the risk present in treatment approaches. This review showcases the important roles these factors play in the diagnosis, prediction, protection and treatment planning for oral cancer, with the intention to improve clinical outcomes and promote earlier intervention plans.