Histone modifications in oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy with dismal prognosis without effective therapeutic options in advanced cases. The evolution from oral potentially malignant disorders to OSCC has poorly described underlying epigenetic features. With the ability of silencing or activation of vital genes, histone modifications' and modifiers' potentiality for early diagnosis, prognosis predicting, and therapy in OSCC were evaluated by extensive epigenetic studies. This review investigates the roles of dysregulated histone modifications and the associated modifying enzymes in OSCC onset and progression. Also, we focus on the current advances of histone modifications as therapeutic targets and the potential value of epi-drugs.