Potential effects of anticoagulants in preclinical mice models of oral cancer: A systematic review

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck cancer. There is mounting evidence to suggest that several components of the coagulation system directly affect carcinogenesis. Our recent in vitro studies demonstrated, for the first time, that various anticoagulants have anticancer effects on OSCC. They also showed the need for the immediate translation of these experimental conditions from bench to preclinical animal models. Here, we carried out a systematic review to summarise existing evidence on murine models built around the interactions between anticoagulants and oral cancer. Only one preclinical murine study was included in our systematic review, investigating the role of heparins in tumour pathophysiology. The paucity of evidence regarding the interactions between oral squamous cell carcinoma and anticoagulants emphasises the urgency with which further preclinical research should be conducted.