Ricerc@Sapienza

The most prevalent malignancy in the oral cavity is represented by oral
squamous cell carcinoma, an aggressive disease mostly detected in low‐income
communities. This neoplasia is mostly diffused in older men particularly
exposed to risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, and a diet rich in fatty foods
and poor in vegetables. In oral squamous cell carcinoma, a wide range of
matrix‐cleaving proteinases are involved in extracellular matrix remodeling of
cancer microenvironment. In particular, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)
represent the major and most investigated protagonists. Owing to their strong
involvement in malignant pathologies, MMPs are considered the most
promising new biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The interest in
studying MMPs in oral cancer biology is also owing to their prominent role in
epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is an intricate process
involving different complex pathways. EMT‐related proteins are attractive
diagnostic biomarkers that characterize the activation of biological events that
promote cancerʼs aggressive expansion. Different antioncogenic natural
compounds have been investigated to counteract oral carcinogenesis, with the
scope of obtaining better clinical results and lower morbidity. In particular,
we describe the role of different nutraceuticals used for the regulation of
MMP‐related invasion and proliferation of oral cancer cells.