Therapeutic Targets in Biofilm-Mediated Oral Cancer: Innovations and Challenges
Keywords:
Oral Cancer, Biofilms, Biofilm-Mediated Tumorigenesis, Quorum Sensing, Chronic InflammationAbstract
Oral cancer remains a significant global health burden, with increasing evidence pointing to the critical role of biofilms in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. Biofilm-mediated mechanisms not only create a pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironment but also promote the emergence of cancer stem cells, enhancing tumor aggressiveness. This review comprehensively explores the dynamics of biofilms in oral cancer and highlights key molecular and cellular therapeutic targets, such as signaling pathways (MAPK, NF-kB) and cancer stem cells. Current therapeutic strategies, including quorum-sensing inhibitors, nanotechnology-based drug delivery, and immunotherapy, are critically evaluated for their potential in overcoming biofilm-associated challenges. However, limitations such as resistance mechanisms, heterogeneity of biofilm communities, and translational barriers impede progress. Future perspectives underscore the need for multi-targeted approaches, personalized medicine, and advanced computational tools to revolutionize biofilm-mediated oral cancer management. This review aims to provide a holistic understanding of the innovations and challenges in this evolving field, paving the way for more effective therapeutic interventions.
References
Bray, Freddie, et al. (2023). Global cancer statistics 2023: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide. *CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 73*(1), 10–34.
Donlan, Rodney M., & Costerton, J. William. (2023). Biofilms and their role in oral carcinogenesis. *Current Opinion in Microbiology, 67*, 34–42.
Flemming, Hans-Curt, Wingender, Jost, Szewzyk, Ulrich, Steinberg, Peter, Rice, Scott A., & Kjelleberg, Staffan. (2016). Biofilms: An emergent form of bacterial life. *Nature Reviews Microbiology, 14*(9), 563–575.
Flemming, Hans-Curt, et al. (2022). Biofilms: An emergent form of bacterial life. *Nature Reviews Microbiology, 20*(5), 254–268.
Ghosh, Pritam, et al. (2023). Immune modulation in biofilm-mediated oral cancer. *Frontiers in Immunology, 14*, 1029381.
Hannan, Thomas J., et al. (2023). Genetic adaptability of biofilms in cancer microenvironments. *Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 61*(2), e00001-23.
Jia, Xinyi, et al. (2022). Nanotechnology for biofilm-targeted therapies in oral oncology. *Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 188*, 114438.
Jia, Xinyi, et al. (2023). Strategies to overcome biofilm Resistance in oral cancer therapies. *Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 193*, 114578.
Koo, Hyun, et al. (2022). The oral biofilm: Formation, dynamics, and implications in oral health and disease. *Nature Reviews Microbiology, 20*(10), 621–635.
Nguyen, Thao T., et al. (2023). The role of artificial intelligence in optimising cancer therapies. *Cancer Research and Therapeutics, 18*(3), 224–238.
Rao, Anil V., et al. (2023). Cancer stem cells in the Biofilm microenvironment: Implications for oral cancer therapy. *International Journal of Cancer, 152*(4), 719–732.
Sung, Hyuna, Ferlay, Jacques, Siegel, Rebecca L., Laversanne, Mathieu, Soerjomataram, Isabelle, Jemal, Ahmedin, & Bray, Freddie. (2021). Global cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. *CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71*(3), 209–249.
Zhou, Jiawei, et al. (2023). Molecular mechanisms linking biofilms to oral cancer progression. *Trends in Molecular Medicine, 29*(6), 512–528
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Advanced Research in Dental and Oral Health (ISSN: 2456-141X)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
We, the undersigned, give an undertaking to the following effect with regard to our article entitled
“_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________” submitted for publication in (Journal title)________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________Vol.________, Year _________:-
1. The article mentioned above has not been published or submitted to or accepted for publication in any form, in any other journal.
2. We also vouchsafe that the authorship of this article will not be contested by anyone whose name(s) is/are not listed by us here.
3. I/We declare that I/We contributed significantly towards the research study i.e., (a) conception, design and/or analysis and interpretation of data and to (b) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content and on (c) final approval of the version to be published.
4. I/We hereby acknowledge ADRs conflict of interest policy requirement to scrupulously avoid direct and indirect conflicts of interest and, accordingly, hereby agree to promptly inform the editor or editor's designee of any business, commercial, or other proprietary support, relationships, or interests that I/We may have which relate directly or indirectly to the subject of the work.
5. I/We also agree to the authorship of the article in the following sequence:-
Authors' Names (in sequence) Signature of Authors
1. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
4. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
5. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
6. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
7. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
8. _____________________________________ _____________________________________
Important
(I). All the authors are required to sign independently in this form in the sequence given above. In case an author has left the institution/ country and whose whereabouts are not known, the senior author may sign on his/ her behalf taking the responsibility.
(ii). No addition/ deletion/ or any change in the sequence of the authorship will be permissible at a later stage, without valid reasons and permission of the Editor.
(iii). If the authorship is contested at any stage, the article will be either returned or will not be
processed for publication till the issue is solved.
