The Significance of Androgen Receptor in Oncogenesis and Cancer Treatment: Emphasis on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The androgen receptor (AR) is a transcription factor that is dependent upon ligand activation and is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. AR has been found to have a role in cancers of the prostate, breast, ovarian, nasal cavity, and lung. It has been seen that AR plays a significant role in both the early and later stages of prostate cancer as AR is expressed in almost every primary prostate cancer. An evolving prognostic and therapeutic role of AR also exists in breast cancer as increased expression of AR has been linked to improved survival. In the case of OSCC, the role of hormonal therapy as a prognostic marker remains to be explored. Some reports have failed to identify the expression of AR in oral cavity cancers or any significant associations, while others have predicted AR-expressing tumours to have a worse prognosis. This review narrates the current research on AR and how it can be applied in future research.