Affiliation:
1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery School and Hospital of Stomatology Cheeloo College of Medicine Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases Jinan Shandong 250012 China
2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Shandong Provincial Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine Shandong University Jinan Shandong 250021 China
3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan Shandong 250021 China
Abstract
AbstractAs an essential mineral element for the human body, copper (Cu) is necessary for various physiological functions. Excess or deficiency of copper causes cytotoxicity and damages the body. Thus, strict regulatory mechanisms are required to maintain copper homeostasis. Copper correlates closely with many forms of cell death. A recent study found that copper‐dependent cell death, known as cuproptosis, is different from all other known forms of cell death. This discovery helps us further understand the role of copper in cytotoxicity. Copper dysregulation occurs in a variety of malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is the eighth most common malignancy worldwide. This may increase the risk of HNSCC from a population perspective. Further exploring molecular mechanisms of copper in HNSCC will contribute to provide new therapeutic opportunities. Here, the physiological metabolism and functions of copper, as well as copper‐related cell death, are reviewed. The study focuses on the research advances of copper in HNSCC, including the epidemiology and molecular mechanisms, as well as therapeutic strategies targeting copper homeostasis.
Funder
Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province