Inibidor da Enzima Conversora da Angiotensina como Potencial Alvo Terapêutico no Carcinoma Bucal

Abstract

Cancer is a disease that represents an important public health problem in the world since neoplasms are one of the main causes of death. An increase in morbidity and mortality is expected in the coming years. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common histological subtype, accounting for more than 90% of oral cavity cancers (OCC). The main risk factors are alcohol and tobacco intoxication, oncogenic virus infection, and the appearance of potentially cancerous lesions. Treatment for early-stage squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity is usually a single modality, either surgery or radiation therapy. Treatment for locally advanced cancer is multimodal, with surgery followed by adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation as indicated by pathologic features or definitive chemoradiation. However, scientific findings for new therapeutic modalities are well accepted, since mortality rates for cancer of the oral cavity still remain high. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is generally associated with its systemic action on cardiovascular homeostasis. However, there is growing evidence that some components of the RAS, be them; via the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II (Ang II), and activation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, which is not only proposed but also proven to play a role in cancer, inducing tumor growth and metastasis. Suggesting the evaluation of the inhibition of some RAS compounds as a treatment for OSCC. Since the RAS may play a role in carcinogenesis, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on the proliferative, invasive, and metastatic effects on OSCC in vitro and in vivo assays, to discuss the development of drugs that target the RAS as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of OSCC. Our results in both trials revealed an association between the development of OSCC and the use of an ACEI, due to the attenuation of the growth of oral carcinoma and its invasive power.