“…Given that the head and neck regions including the oral cavity are always challenged by every pathogen, the involvement of inflammatory responses might be indispensable for OSCC tumor initiation and progression (Allen et al, 2007;Choi & Myers, 2008;Ferris & Grandis, 2007;Lin et al, 2002;Pries et al, 2006). In addition, this region is also abundant in a range of growth factors that contribute to malignant conversion of OSCC through activating diverse cancer-related signaling pathways (Yamada et al, 2008;Nagano & Saya, 2004;Ponta et al, 2003;Todd & Wong, 1999).…”