Inhibitors of inflammasome (NLRP3) signaling pathway as promising therapeutic candidates for oral cancer

Inflammasomes are complex protein assemblies responsible for regulating the development and release of proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) against the intracellular triggers. Among these, the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome stands out as the most extensively studied and well-characterized member, implicated in numerous pathological conditions. A systematic literature search was conducted on the PubMed such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar database to identify peer-reviewed publications pertaining to the role of NLRP3 in oral cancer pathogenesis and its inhibitors for targeted therapy. Recent research highlights the emerging significance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in tumorigenesis, garnering attention as a potential target for anticancer therapies. This review delves into the involvement of NLRP3 in cancer development and progression, providing an in-depth overview of its activation (and inhibition) and its impact on oral cancer pathogenesis. The manuscript provides a detailed review of the natural and synthetic compounds inhibiting the NLRP3 signaling pathway, which might act as therapeutic lead molecules in oral cancer. This holds promise to overcome targeted and effective treatment options the development of novel drugs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated mechanisms in oral cancer.