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Oral Cancer: Risk Factors and Molecular Pathogenesis

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Abstract

Introduction

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers and it constitutes a major health problem particularly in developing countries. It is one of the leading causes of death. Tobacco and alcohol consumption appears to be the major determinants of oral cancer.

Materials and methods

The literature search was carried out in NCBI Pubmed database using keywords “oral cancer”, “risk factor”, “epidemiology” and “patho*”. Some basic information was also obtained from textbook and medical university websites.

Results

Several risk factors have been well characterized to be associated with oral cancer with substantial evidences. The development of oral cancer is a multistep process involving the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in key regulatory genes. Experimental pathological studies of oral cancer in animal models and direct molecular genetic analysis of oral cancer subjects in recent times have revealed a substantial amount of knowledge on specific gene alterations or other genetic mechanisms involved in initiation and subsequent progression.

Conclusion

Considering known risk factors, oral cancer appears to be to a certain extent, a preventable disease. Recent development of molecular picture of pathoprogression and molecular genetic tools opens the avenue for easier diagnosis, better prognostication and efficient therapeutic management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (Erstwhile King George’s Medical University), Lucknow, 226 001, India

    Hari Ram & Shadab Mohammad

  2. Drug Target Discovery and Development Division, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, India

    Jayanta Sarkar

  3. Endocrinology Division, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, India

    Hemant Kumar & Rituraj Konwar

  4. Department of Radiotherapy, CSM Medical University (Erstwhile King George’s Medical University), Lucknow, India

    M. L. B. Bhatt

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  1. Hari Ram
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  2. Jayanta Sarkar
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  3. Hemant Kumar
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  4. Rituraj Konwar
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  6. Shadab Mohammad
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Correspondence to Hari Ram.

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Ram, H., Sarkar, J., Kumar, H. et al. Oral Cancer: Risk Factors and Molecular Pathogenesis. J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 10, 132–137 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-011-0195-z

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