Hussain Shazia Fathima Jaffer, Fareed Mohammad, Karobari Mohmed Isaqali
Global Research Cell, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College & Hospital, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, 411018, India.
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, AlMaarefa University, P.O. Box: 71666, Diriyah, Riyadh, 11597, Saudi Arabia.
Discov Oncol. 2025 Jul 17;16(1):1355. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-03073-2.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) contributes significantly to global cancer mortality, characterized by a progression from hyperplasia to invasive cancer through a series of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Central to this progression is the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which regulates cell proliferation and survival. This review examines the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in modulating the Akt/mTOR pathway and their implications for OSCC. The Akt/mTOR pathway, activated by receptor tyrosine kinases and involving the PI3K/AKT/mTOR complexes, is crucial for tumor cell growth and metabolism. Dysregulation of this pathway is frequently observed in OSCC, leading to increased proliferation, survival, and metastasis. miRNAs, such as miR-21, miR-99, and miR-145, play significant roles in regulating this pathway by influencing key components like Akt and mTOR. These miRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, affecting cancer progression and response to therapy. The review highlights the potential of targeting miRNAs for OSCC treatment, including strategies to restore normal miRNA levels or inhibit aberrant miRNAs. Such targeted therapies offer promise for improving treatment outcomes and overcoming drug resistance in OSCC.
口腔鳞状细胞癌（OSCC）是全球癌症死亡的重要原因，其特征是通过一系列基因和表观遗传改变从增生发展为浸润性癌症。这一进程的核心是Akt/mTOR信号通路，该通路调节细胞增殖和存活。本综述探讨了微小RNA（miRNA）在调节Akt/mTOR通路中的作用及其对OSCC的影响。由受体酪氨酸激酶激活并涉及PI3K/AKT/mTOR复合物的Akt/mTOR通路对肿瘤细胞的生长和代谢至关重要。在OSCC中经常观察到该通路的失调，导致增殖、存活和转移增加。miR-21、miR-99和miR-145等miRNA通过影响Akt和mTOR等关键成分在调节该通路中发挥重要作用。这些miRNA可以作为癌基因或肿瘤抑制因子，影响癌症进展和对治疗的反应。该综述强调了针对miRNA进行OSCC治疗的潜力，包括恢复正常miRNA水平或抑制异常miRNA的策略。这种靶向治疗有望改善OSCC的治疗效果并克服耐药性。
