Biological and Molecular Biomarkers in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Innovation and Insights

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) represents the 16th most prevalent cancer worldwide accounting for greater than 389,000 cases annually. Most examples of OCSCC are preceded by a diverse group of lesions exhibiting variable risk of transformation to cancer, collectively termed oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). The identification of salivary, serologic, and/or tumor tissue biomarkers holds substantial promise for improving detection, prognosis, and treatment of OPMDs and OCSCC. Although certain biomarkers have become standard of care in the management of patients, continued robust validation and stringent protocol standardization efforts are critical to ensure both diagnostic accuracy and widespread utilization.