*Dr. Abhitosh Debata
**Dr. Anand Garabadu
***Dr. Sangram Patro
****Dr. Swarnav Patnaik
*****Dr. Monalisa Panda
******Dr. Reeti Garabadu
The Journal
A Novel approach for the management of oral cancer –
A Review
SRNA interference (RNAi) is a mechanism thus present in living cells that helps to control which
genes are active and how active they are. With a new perspective, RNAi can be used as a therapeutic
aid including in the management of various types of cancer, respiratory diseases etc. This article
highlights the role of RNAi in management of oral cancer. There are various ways to achieve this
which includes delivery of plasmid based sh RNA constructs to induce RNAi , silencing a specific
gene like p53R2 by RNAi, targeting urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, down regulating
Bmi-1 protein, inhibiting the expression of amino acid transporter LAT1 or using RNAi technology for
screening novel biomarkers for human oral cancer.
Oral cancer and challenges in current
treatment methodology
Introduction
RNA interference (RNAi) is steadily emerging
as a very safe, effective and logical way to
manage oral cancer by silencing target specific
genes. It is a naturally occurring mechanism. In
consequence, the respective protein is not
synthesized (1). This mechanism is also used
for regulation of specific genes and is also
applied as a defense against viruses. It was first
experimentally documented in 1998 in
Caenorhabditiselegansby Fire et al., who were
later awarded the Nobel Prize in 2006 for his
contribution to the fields of
Physiology/Medicine. Subsequently RNAi
studies have demonstrated the clinical potential
of synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or
short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) in oral diseases,
cardiovascular diseasesocular diseases,
cancer, metabolic diseases,
neurodegenerative disorders and many more.
RNAi holds a great promise in the field of cancer
therapy. In recent studies, the silencing of
genes that are associated with cancer by RNAi
technology has generated significant anti-
proliferative effects in cell culture systems or in
preclinical trials.
Cancer is referred as a disease in which the
cells within the body divide abnormally without
control and spread rapidly to the other body
parts through the blood and lymphatics. The
Cancer occurring in the tissues of the oral cavity
or oropharynxis generally termed as Oral
cancer. Some of the common etiologies of oral
cancer are consumption of alcohol and
tobacco, poor oral hygiene, poor nutrition, ill
fitted dentures, ultraviolet light and viruses.
Approximately half a million new oral cancer
cases are reported annually worldwide and is
one of the leading causes of mortality and
morbidity amongst all cancers in India attributed
to the difference in life style, deleterious habits,
poverty, lack of proper education and less
access to sustainable medical care. At present
the available treatment modalities of oral
cancer issurgical excision (removal) of the
tumor, if the tumor is small enough, and the
surgery is likely to result in a functionally and
aesthetically satisfactory result. Radiation
therapy with or without chemotherapy can also
be done in conjunction with surgery, or as the
definitive radical treatment, if the tumor is big
and seems inoperable.
* Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hi-Tech Dental College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
** Reader, Dept. of Orthodontic, Hi-Tech Dental College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
*** Professor, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hi-Tech Dental College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
**** Reader, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hi-Tech Dental College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
***** Post Graduate Trainee, Dept. of Periodontics , Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
****** Senior Dental Consultant, Healthcare hospital, Cuttack, Odisha
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Vol. 14 No. 1
Jan-Apr 2018