Year : 2018

Volume : Volume 9

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Sumitha Ganesan.
SumithaGanesan@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck includes cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, nasal cavity and para-nasal sinuses. In India head and neck cancer contributes to about 45% of all malignancies of which one third are oral cancer. The two main etiological factors for head and neck cancer are alcohol and tobacco. There is a synergetic interaction between the two agents which may be super multiplicative, additive, or between additive and multiplicative. The other factors contributing to oral cancer are diet, viruses, occupational agents, environmental pollutants and genetic influences. The molecular events leading to cancer development involves activation of proto oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The unique presence of somatic molecular alterations in cancer cells has provided scope for improved diagnostic and gene based therapy of HNSCC (Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma). Gene therapy involves both modification of existing genetic material or introduction of new genetic material. The main objective of gene therapy is introduction of genetic material into target cancer cell without any damage to the surrounding normal cells. The purpose of this article is to review the role of gene therapy in oral cancer.

Keywords: Oral cancer, Gene therapy, Adenoviruses, Oncolytic viruses, immunotherapy.