Oral Cancer: Prognosis, Life Expectancy, and Survival Factors in Multidisciplinary Treatment

The oral cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in the head and neck region, with a five-year survival rate of less than 50%. Identifying prognostic factors is crucial for improving oral cancer life expectancy and guiding treatment towards specific objectives. In this context, a multidisciplinary approach has become an essential strategy to address the complexity of this disease.

Diving into Prognosis and Survival

Research on prognostic biomarkers has advanced significantly, highlighting the role of microRNAs in the regulation of oral cancer. A recent study identified the altered expression of miR-21 as a valid prognostic biomarker for survival in oral cancer, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.29 for overall survival between high and low expression of miR-21. This finding underscores the importance of biomarkers in assessing oral cancer prognosis.

Additionally, miR-31 has also been identified as an indicator of poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, with an HR of 1.59 for overall survival. These data suggest that elevated expression of miR-31 could predict an unfavorable prognosis in patients with this type of neoplasm.

Treating oral cancer requires a comprehensive approach involving surgeons, oncologists, dentists, and other specialists. Cooperation between the ENT surgeon and the dentist is fundamental to optimizing treatment outcomes, as highlighted in the collaboration between these professionals in head and neck oncology.

Conclusions

The treatment of oral cancer greatly benefits from a multidisciplinary approach that integrates the identification of prognostic factors and the application of targeted therapies. Ongoing research on biomarkers such as miR-21 and miR-31 offers new perspectives for improving oral tumor survival. Collaboration among different medical disciplines is essential to provide effective treatment and enhance life expectancy in oral cavity cancer.

Referencias

• [1] MicroRNA-21 Expression as a Prognostic Biomarker in Oral Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• [2] The Prognostic Role of miR-31 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis
• [3] Cooperation between ENT surgeon and dentist in head and neck oncology

Created 13/1/2025