The mechanism of lncRNA PVT1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma, a common malignancy of the head and neck, is characterized by high rates of recurrence, metastasis, and chemoresistance, contributing to its persistently low five-year survival rate. Long non-coding RNA Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1(lncRNA PVT1), a significant oncogenic non-coding RNA, is frequently overexpressed in various human malignancies. Accumulating evidence highlights the central contribution of lncRNA PVT1 to OSCC pathogenesis through its regulation of essential oncogenic phenotypes, such as cell proliferation, invasion, metastatic dissemination, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. This review systematically summarizes the expression profile, functional mechanisms, and clinical significance of lncRNA PVT1 in OSCC, with a specific focus on molecular pathways such as the competitive endogenous RNA mechanism, induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, modulation of key signaling pathways, and upstream regulation by m6A methylation. Furthermore, the potential of lncRNA PVT1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target is discussed.