Exploring the interaction mechanisms of CD46/TREM1 and LC3B/ATG5 in the inflammation-cancer transformation of oral squamous cell carcinoma based on bioinformatics

CD46 and TREM1 are highly expressed in OSCC and serve as key initiating factors in the progression from OLK to OSCC. Bioinformatics analysis identified critical candidate genes (<i>Col4a6</i>, <i>Csf2</i>) and pathways (PI3K-Akt, TNF) in inflammation-to-cancer conversion. Activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway is associated with inhibited autophagy and malignant progression of OSCC. Additionally, inflammation-to-cancer transition is a core mechanism in the development of OSCC, with the tumor inflammatory microenvironment acting as a "promoter" in the progression from OLK to OSCC. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies for OSCC, holding significant theoretical and clinical application value.