A Systematic Review of Gene Therapy as Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents about 90% of all malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity. Oral cancer is the cause of death among children ages 1-14 years. Gene therapy provides modern medicine and had great potential as a recent therapeutic modality. Gene therapy can potentially attack cancerous cells while respecting normal tissue. It may be useful as treatment for recurrence disease such as oral squamous cell carcinoma. Objective: To review materials about gene therapy as a treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Scientific evidence and clinical cases were drawn from the literature to support this review and information about the gene therapy as a treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma was collected. Results: Gene therapy is introducing new genetic material into target cells while causing no damage to surrounding healthy cells and tissue. It has been defined as the genetic modification of cells of a patient in order to fight a disease. Gene therapy includes both the transfer of new genetic material and the manipulation of existing genetic material. Conclusion: Gene therapy has potential as a recent treatment in cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).