Exploring Therapeutic Potential: A Comprehensive Review of Antimicrobial Peptides in Oral Cancer Management

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have garnered attention for their differential regulation in cancers like oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), suggesting their potential as novel anti-cancer agents. These small cationic peptides play crucial roles in innate immunity, particularly in the oral cavity where they are produced by salivary glands and epithelium to combat microbial invasion. AMPs exhibit antimicrobial and anti-cancer activities, disrupting microbial cell membranes and inducing cytotoxicity in cancer cells by binding to exposed phosphatidylserine moieties. Certain AMPs also trigger the release of tumor antigens and damage-associated molecular patterns. With increasing resistance to conventional chemotherapy, AMPs present a promising avenue for the development of effective therapeutic agents in oncology. In addition to their direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, AMPs exhibit potential in activating adaptive immunity and functioning as tumor suppressor genes. This review explores the properties, mode of action, and potential interaction of AMPs and specific cancer cells, emphasizing their role in combating oral cancer and the need for further research in this area.