Tumor suppressor genes in oral cancer

The incidence of oral cancer remains high and is associated with many deaths. Several risk factors for the development of oral cancer are now well known, including smoking, drinking and consumption of smokeless tobacco products. Genetic predisposition to oral cancer has been found in certain cases but its components are not yet entirely clear. A number of genomic lesions accompany the transformation into oral cancer and a wealth of related results has appeared in recent literature. Tumor suppressor genes can be grouped into 3 categories like caretaker genes, gatekeeper genes, and landscaper genes; the classification schemes are evolving as medicine advances, learning from fields including molecular biology, genetics, and epigenetics. Tumor suppressor genes in oral cancer have been analyzed a lot in many studies. This review highlights the important areas about tumor suppressor genes in oral cancer and provides an overview on the understanding of these genes.