Inflammatory cytokines and oral cancer risk: an integrated study combining two-sample Mendelian randomization with experimental validation

This integrated study combining MR analysis and experimental validation provides evidence for causal effects of increased beta-nerve growth factor along with decreased macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin-18 on higher oral cavity cancer risk, independent of known risk factors. The oncogenic role of NGF was further confirmed through functional studies, suggesting these inflammatory cytokines may represent etiologic targets for oral cancer prevention.