T cell subset-an overview in oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma in background of oral submucous fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition with marked alteration in fibers of connective tissue concerned with the lamina propria and its deeper position. In the period of about 10 years, the OSF has shown 7.6% of the malignant transformation (MT) rate. The immune system is also known to play the utmost significant part in the regulation of OSF and frank invasive lesions. The passable host immune response defends the mucosa from its malignant change. With the progress of time, it is getting very apparent that counts and functionality of various T cell subsets in different diseases and links between T cells profile and pathological symptoms or the predisposition for the disorders is becoming important. Recent studies concerning the immune system have discovered about the host immune could affect tumor growth, accenting the position of immunological biomarkers regarding treatment and its prognostic approach in cancer cases. The knowledge regarding the analysis of T cell subsets is still not yet completely disclosed and studies undertaken are also few. From the studies undertaken till now it can be understood that immunosurveillance and immune cells plays a significant part in the development of the OSF and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Taking this as background, this review gives the essential role of T cells and their subsets to understand the detailed T cell profiling in OSF cases and OSCC in background of OSF such that a future hypothesis can be formulated to undertake research which can give the translational value.