High throughput molecular profiling approaches for the identifications of genomic alterations and therapeutic targets in oral cancer

Tumors, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), develop through the combined processes of genomic instability, alteration, and selection, resulting in clonal expansion of cells that have accumulated the most advantageous set of genetic aberrations. With the human genome deciphered, high-throughput molecular profiling technologies are currently linking genome-wide transcriptome, proteome and mutation profiles with biological and disease phenotypes, which present an unprecedented opportunity for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this chapter, we aim to summarize modern genomics and proteomics technologies that can significantly facilitate our understanding of the molecular events underlying the development of OSCC. Understanding the molecular and genetic alterations in the pathogenesis of OSCC will help elucidate the mechanisms involved in tumor formation as well as identify potential targets for improved diagnosis and treatment of OSCC. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011. All rights reserved.