Burden of Oral Cancer on the 10 Most Populous Countries from 1990 to 2019: Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Oral cancer (OC) is a common tumour that poses a threat to human health and imposes a heavy burden on countries. This study assessed the burden imposed by OC on the 10 most populous countries from 1990 to 2019 on the basis of gender, age and socio-demographic index. Methods: Data on incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and corresponding age-standardised rates (ASR) for OC in the 10 most populous countries from 1990 to 2019 were derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Estimated annual percentage changes were calculated to assess the trends of morbidity, mortality and DALY. The indicator that served as a proxy for survival rate was the supplement of mortality-to-incidence ratio (SMIR) (1 − (M/I)). Results: The number of new cases, deaths and DALY have increased in all 10 countries in the past 30 years. Trends in age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardised DALY for OC in the 10 most populous countries varied. The SMIR increased in all countries, with most countries having an SMIR between 30% and 50%. In 2019, the United States had the highest SMIR at 76%, whereas Russia had the lowest at 21.7%. Incidence and mortality were close between male and female subjects in Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The incidence and mortality in male subjects in the United States, Russia, China and Brazil were two or more times those of female subjects. Gender difference was highest among patients aged 40–69 years. Conclusion: Trends and gender differences in ASIR, ASMR and age-standardised DALY for OC vary in the 10 most populous countries. Government cancer programs are often expensive to run, especially in countries with large populations. Policy makers need to take these differences into account when formulating policies.

Epidemiology and types of oral cancer

Oral cancer is a subset of head and neck cancer and usually refers to different neoplastic conditions that impact any tissue within the oral cavity. Evidence shows that these malignancies are associated with different complications over the affected patients. The present literature review will discuss the epidemiology and types of oral cancer based on evidence from relevant studies within the literature. Estimates show that oral cancer is a common condition with high prevalence rates globally. However, we have identified several factors across the different relevant investigations, including smoking, alcohol intake, age, socioeconomic status, immunocompromised state, and genetics. This might explain the inconsistent findings regarding the prevalence and mortality rates of the conditions among worldwide studies. Moreover, squamous cells carcinoma is the commonest type of oral cancer. However, other types might also be identified as adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, and lymphoma. These lesions can also be found at different places within the mouth cavity, including lips, tongue, and salivary glands. Therefore, healthcare authorities should plan adequate interventional strategies targeting the risk factors to properly control the disease and reduce its burden.

TGF-βRII regulates glucose metabolism in oral cancer-associated fibroblasts via promoting PKM2 nuclear translocation

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are highly heterogeneous and differentiated stromal cells that promote tumor progression via remodeling of extracellular matrix, maintenance of stemness, angiogenesis, and modulation of tumor metabolism. Aerobic glycolysis is characterized by an increased uptake of glucose for conversion into lactate under sufficient oxygen conditions, and this metabolic process occurs at the site of energy exchange between CAFs and cancer cells. As a hallmark of cancer, metabolic reprogramming of CAFs is defined as reverse Warburg effect (RWE), characterized by increased lactate, glutamine, and pyruvate, etc. derived from aerobic glycolysis. Given that the TGF-β signal cascade plays a critical role in RWE mainly through metabolic reprogramming related proteins including pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme 2 (PKM2), however, the role of nuclear PKM2 in modifying glycolysis remains largely unknown. In this study, using a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, we provide evidence that TGF-βRII overexpression suppresses glucose metabolism in CAFs by attenuating PKM2 nuclear translocation, thereby inhibiting oral cancer tumor growth. This study highlights a novel pathway that explains the role of TGF-βRII in CAFs glucose metabolism and suggests that targeting TGF-βRII in CAFs might represent a therapeutic approach for oral cancer.

Way to Cure Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Theranostics and Nanoparticular Approaches

One of the most prevalent forms of oral cancer is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Following a definite oral cancer diagnosis, OSCC is typically treated with a multidisciplinary approach including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In contrast, conventional chemotherapy medicines may be ineffective and have a range of side effects. Many techniques have been proved and authorized for treatment and diagnostics of different types of oral cancer, while others are currently being investigated in clinical trials. This book chapter is aimed to explain the current preclinical status of nano-based techniques to successfully diagnose and treat OSCC. This book chapter would also emphasize recent theranostics approaches utilized to cure OSCC. Nanotechnology also improved cancer biomarker detection, making them faster and more sensitive. To overcome these constraints and improve in situ drug delivery, various nanoparticles have been employed as innovation drivers.