Research progress of lncRNA UCA1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor in the head and neck region, with a relatively high incidence and mortality rate. Long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) is an important class of non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of OSCC. Urothelial carcinoma associated 1(UCA1) is highly expressed in OSCC, where it regulates the biological behavior of tumor cells through miRNA sponge activity and activation of downstream signaling pathways. This article reviews the mechanisms of action of UCA1 in OSCC and its research progress in areas such as tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This is expected to provide a theoretical foundation for the potential clinical applications of UCA1 in OSCC.