Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one the most prevalent head and neck cancers and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The main established risk factors for OSCC include tobacco and alcohol consumption and betel quid chewing, which may contribute alone or in combination with other environmental factors to carcinogenesis. The oral microbiota is emerging as a key player in the establishment of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that may trigger or promote carcinogenesis, including in the oral cavity. Among the bacterial species found in the oral microbiota,Fusobacterium nucleatum, an anaerobic bacterium commonly found in oral biofilms and a periodontal pathogen, has gained attention due to solid evidence implicatingF. nucleatumin colorectal cancer (CRC).F. nucleatumhas been shown to induce chronic inflammation, promote cell proliferation and trigger cellular invasion while deploying immune evasion mechanisms. These experimental findings were first obtained in in vitro and in vivo models of CRC and are being confirmed in studies on OSCC. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on the role ofF. nucleatumin OSCC, discuss the clinical implications in terms of prognosis and provide an overview of the key mechanisms involved. Moreover, we identify research questions and aspects that require investigations to clarify the role ofF. nucleatumin OSCC. We anticipate that studies in this emerging field may have a significant clinical impact on the diagnosis, prognosis and management of OSCC.
口腔鳞状细胞癌（OSCC）是最常见的头颈部恶性肿瘤之一，也是全球范围内导致发病和死亡的主要原因。目前已明确的主要风险因素包括吸烟、饮酒和咀嚼槟榔，这些因素可能单独或与其他环境因素共同作用促进癌变。口腔微生物群在可能触发或促进口腔等部位癌变的分子和细胞机制中正逐渐成为关键角色。在口腔微生物群中，具核梭杆菌作为一种常见于口腔生物膜中的厌氧菌及牙周病原体，因其在结直肠癌（CRC）中的明确作用而备受关注。研究表明，具核梭杆菌能够诱导慢性炎症、促进细胞增殖并触发细胞侵袭，同时具备免疫逃逸机制。这些实验发现最初在结直肠癌的体外和体内模型中获得，目前正在口腔鳞状细胞癌研究中得到验证。本综述总结了具核梭杆菌在口腔鳞状细胞癌中作用的最新研究进展，探讨了其预后方面的临床意义，并概述了相关关键机制。此外，我们提出了需要进一步研究的问题和方向，以阐明具核梭杆菌在口腔鳞状细胞癌中的作用。我们预计这一新兴领域的研究可能对口腔鳞状细胞癌的诊断、预后和治疗产生重要的临床影响。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家