Oral Fibrosis and Oral Cancers: From Molecular Targets to Therapeutics
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editor
Interests: oral cancer; oral submucous fibrosis; metastasis; targeted therapy; cell signaling; tumor microenvironment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic scarring disease recognized as a precancerous condition of the oral mucosa, with a malignant transformation rate of approximately 7–13%. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OSF and oral cancer is crucial for developing better treatment approaches and preventing cancer progression.
Current knowledge indicates that OSF is linked to increased myofibroblast activity and dysregulation of collagen homeostasis. Therefore, inhibiting myofibroblast activation is considered a potential therapeutic strategy for OSF. Additionally, chemo/radioresistance and metastasis in oral cancers are often attributed to cancer stem cells or epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Various non-coding RNAs have been identified as key regulators of cancer stemness and EMT, playing critical roles in the progression of OSF and oral cancer. Furthermore, several natural compounds have demonstrated the ability to modulate the expression of these non-coding RNAs, suggesting their potential as adjunct therapies for OSF and oral cancer.
The integration of our understanding of tumor genetics, transcriptomics, and proteomics with the evolving genetic landscape has paved the way for precision medicine. This Special Issue invites contributions that discuss screening strategies, pathogenesis, molecular targets, and therapeutic options for OSF and oral cancer. The goal is to delve into cutting-edge advances and potentially accelerate the discovery and development of effective treatments for these conditions.
Dr. Ila Pant
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- OSF
- oral cancer
- myofibroblast activation
- collagen homeostasis
- cancer stem cells
- immunotherapy
- monoclonal antibodies
- DNA or RNA based targeted therapy
- small molecule inhibitors
- targeted nano-delivery systems
- resistance to targeted therapies
- molecular targets
- natural compounds
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