{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T12:01:01Z","timestamp":1790596861872,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":86,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790553600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100013795","name":"Fujian Medical University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2024Y9344"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024Y9344"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100013795","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) develops within a complex mucosal ecosystem in which microbial dysbiosis, epithelial injury, inflammation, and immune remodeling interact with established carcinogenic exposures. Although\n                    <jats:italic>Candida albicans<\/jats:italic>\n                    has repeatedly been associated with OSCC and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), its causal and translational significance remains uncertain. This review critically evaluates clinical, microbiological, mechanistic, and translational evidence, with particular attention to the distinction between association, biological plausibility, and causal inference. Current evidence is more consistent with context-dependent tumor-promoting activity than with independent carcinogenicity. Proposed mechanisms include acetaldehyde- and nitrosamine-related genotoxicity, inflammatory and immune-microenvironment remodeling, virulence factor-mediated epithelial injury, and biofilm-associated persistence; however, no single mechanism has been established as necessary or sufficient for\n                    <jats:italic>Candida<\/jats:italic>\n                    -associated tumor promotion. Longitudinal human evidence supports an association between increased fungal burden and malignant transformation in OPMDs, but no validated fungal-burden, virulence, or immune-cell threshold currently distinguishes colonization from pathological amplification. Candidate biomarkers, risk-stratification approaches, and fungal-directed interventions therefore remain investigational. Future studies should integrate standardized longitudinal sampling, spatially resolved fungal\u2013bacterial\u2013host analysis, and functional perturbation to determine whether\n                    <jats:italic>C. albicans<\/jats:italic>\n                    provides reproducible incremental value for clinical risk assessment or therapeutic targeting.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1923618","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T11:28:12Z","timestamp":1790594892000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Candida albicans in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a review of mechanistic pathways and clinical translational strategies"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Peining","family":"Zheng","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Research Center of Oral Tissue Engineering & Institute of Oral Homeostasis, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qin","family":"Xie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Research Center of Oral Tissue Engineering & Institute of Oral Homeostasis, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kenneth K. Y.","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom","place":["Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jordy Evan","family":"Sulaiman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom","place":["Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China"]},{"name":"Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom","place":["Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China"]},{"name":"Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University","place":["Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China"]},{"name":"Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University","place":["Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaojing","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Research Center of Oral Tissue Engineering & Institute of Oral Homeostasis, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guowu","family":"Gan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key lab of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Research Center of Oral Tissue Engineering & Institute of Oral Homeostasis, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]},{"name":"Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom","place":["Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5721","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.43.11.5721-5732.2005","article-title":"Defining the normal bacterial flora of the oral cavity","volume":"43","author":"Aas","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"805","DOI":"10.1111\/odi.12565","article-title":"Candida virulence and ethanol\u2010derived acetaldehyde production in oral cancer and non\u2010cancer subjects","volume":"22","author":"Alnuaimi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Oral. Dis."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.oraloncology.2014.11.008","article-title":"Oral candida colonization in oral cancer patients and its relationship with traditional risk factors of oral cancer: A matched case-control study","volume":"51","author":"Alnuaimi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Oral. Oncol."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"184","DOI":"10.1093\/carcin\/bgy137","article-title":"Monospecies and polymicrobial biofilms differentially regulate the phenotype of genotype-specific oral cancer cells","volume":"40","author":"Arzmi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Carcinogenesis"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"650","DOI":"10.3390\/pathophysiology29040051","article-title":"Role of Candida albicans in oral carcinogenesis","volume":"29","author":"Ayuningtyas","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pathophysiology"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lfs.2020.117695","article-title":"Anti-fungal drug itraconazole exerts anti-cancer effects in oral squamous cell carcinoma via suppressing hedgehog pathway","volume":"254","author":"Ban","year":"2020","journal-title":"Life Sci."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"737","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-011-1154-4","article-title":"Oropharyngeal candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation: Update 2011","volume":"19","author":"Bensadoun","year":"2011","journal-title":"Support. Care Cancer"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1257","DOI":"10.1186\/s40064-016-2926-6","article-title":"Analysis of oral yeast microflora in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"5","author":"Berkovits","year":"2016","journal-title":"SpringerPlus"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/srep27956","article-title":"Morphological and physiological changes induced by contact-dependent interaction between candida albicans and fusobacterium nucleatum","volume":"6","author":"Bor","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"B10","unstructured":"SPORANOX (itraconazole) capsule: Prescribing information\n          \n          \n          Dailymed\n          \n          2026"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1016\/j.otohns.2010.02.003","article-title":"Oral candidiasis in patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer","volume":"143","author":"Deng","year":"2010","journal-title":"Otolaryngol. Neck Surg."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5002","DOI":"10.1128\/JB.00542-10","article-title":"The human oral microbiome","volume":"192","author":"Dewhirst","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Bacteriol."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"313","DOI":"10.1080\/21505594.2016.1252015","article-title":"Mining the oral mycobiome: Methods, components, and meaning","volume":"8","author":"Diaz","year":"2017","journal-title":"Virulence"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1016\/j.oraloncology.2005.07.010","article-title":"Reduced E-cadherin expression is an indicator of unfavourable prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"42","author":"Diniz-Freitas","year":"2006","journal-title":"Oral. Oncol."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"26","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canlet.2012.01.016","article-title":"Oxidatively induced DNA damage: Mechanisms, repair and disease","volume":"327","author":"Dizdaroglu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Cancer Lett."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0007967","article-title":"Characterization of mucosal candida albicans biofilms","volume":"4","author":"Dongari-Bagtzoglou","year":"2009","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2022.911623","article-title":"Cross-kingdom interaction between candida albicans and oral bacteria","volume":"13","author":"Du","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0090899","article-title":"Redefining the human oral mycobiome with improved practices in amplicon-based taxonomy: Discovery of malassezia as a prominent commensal","volume":"9","author":"Dupuy","year":"2014","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"835","DOI":"10.1111\/jop.13014","article-title":"The role of candida albicans candidalysin ECE1 gene in oral carcinogenesis","volume":"49","author":"Engku Nasrullah Satiman","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Oral. Pathol. Med."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpt.2025.03.002","article-title":"Role of candida albicans in chronic inflammation and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"3","author":"G","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cancer Pathog. Ther."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"243","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0714.2012.01203.x","article-title":"Production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde by candida albicans from patients with potentially malignant oral mucosal disorders","volume":"42","author":"Gainza\u2010Cirauqui","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Oral. Pathol. Med."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"810","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-022-05435-0","article-title":"Effect of the intratumoral microbiota on spatial and cellular heterogeneity in cancer","volume":"611","author":"Galeano Ni\u00f1o","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1704","DOI":"10.1111\/odi.15272","article-title":"Oral leukoplakia microbiome predicts the degree of dysplasia and is shaped by smoking and tooth loss","volume":"31","author":"Galvin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Oral. Dis."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.ppat.1000713","article-title":"Characterization of the oral fungal microbiome (mycobiome) in healthy individuals","volume":"6","author":"Ghannoum","year":"2010","journal-title":"PloS Pathog."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1260","DOI":"10.1242\/dmm.012039","article-title":"Mucosal candidiasis elicits NF-\u03baB activation, proinflammatory gene expression and localized neutrophilia in zebrafish","volume":"6","author":"Gratacap","year":"2013","journal-title":"Dis. Model. Mech."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-003-0506-0","article-title":"Long-term oral candida colonization, mucositis and salivary function after head and neck radiotherapy","volume":"11","author":"Gr\u00f6tz","year":"2003","journal-title":"Support. Care Cancer"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.5114\/pjp.2019.90398","article-title":"Candida albicans alcohol dehydrogenase 1 gene in oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"70","author":"Hafed","year":"2019","journal-title":"Pol. J. Pathol."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1080\/21691401.2017.1328688","article-title":"Inhibition of secreted aspartyl proteinase activity in biofilms of candida species by mycogenic silver nanoparticles","volume":"46","author":"Hamid","year":"2018","journal-title":"Artif. Cells Nanomedicine Bio\/Technol."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0047899","article-title":"Progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma accompanied with reduced E-cadherin expression but not cadherin switch","volume":"7","author":"Hashimoto","year":"2012","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/spectrum.02737-22","article-title":"Oral bacteriome and mycobiome across stages of oral carcinogenesis","volume":"10","author":"Heng","year":"2022","journal-title":"Microbiol. Spectr."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1878","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.78.3.1878","article-title":"Enhancement of formation of the esophageal carcinogen benzylmethylnitrosamine from its precursors by candida albicans","volume":"78","author":"Hsia","year":"1981","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23094833","article-title":"Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis for oncogenic mechanisms underlying oral squamous cell carcinoma carcinogenesis with candida albicans infection","volume":"23","author":"Hsieh","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers15215251","article-title":"Real-time PCR detection of candida species in biopsy samples from non-smokers with oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell cancer: A retrospective archive study","volume":"15","author":"\u0130lhan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancers"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/20002297.2025.2598743","article-title":"Candida albicans is a context-dependent risk factor for malignant transformation of oral precancer lesions: a prospective cohort study of 734 Taiwanese patients","volume":"17","author":"Jiang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Oral. Microbiol."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.ppat.1005884","article-title":"The extracellular matrix of candida albicans biofilms impairs formation of neutrophil extracellular traps","volume":"12","author":"Johnson","year":"2016","journal-title":"PloS Pathog."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6936","DOI":"10.1074\/jbc.M115.692640","article-title":"Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2)-mediated nf-\u03baB activation suppresses inflammation-associated tumor suppressor MicroRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"291","author":"Johnson","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4260","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-018-06607-1","article-title":"The fungal peptide toxin candidalysin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and causes cytolysis in mononuclear phagocytes","volume":"9","author":"Kasper","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdsr.2023.10.003","article-title":"Salivary biomarkers for early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and head\/neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): A systematic review and network meta-analysis","volume":"60","author":"Khijmatgar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Jpn. Dent. Sci. Rev."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2022.912748","article-title":"Candida albicans Sap6 initiates oral mucosal inflammation via the protease activated receptor PAR2","volume":"13","author":"Kumar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Immunol."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"985","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-010-0892-z","article-title":"A systematic review of oral fungal infections in patients receiving cancer therapy","volume":"18","author":"Lalla","year":"2010","journal-title":"Support. Care Cancer"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina60111753","article-title":"Oral microbial changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Focus on treponema denticola, lactobacillus casei, and candida albicans","volume":"60","author":"Lee","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med. (Mex.)"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1038\/nrmicro.2017.107","article-title":"Development and regulation of single- and multi-species candida albicans biofilms","volume":"16","author":"Lohse","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/biology12020239","article-title":"Overexpression of E-cadherin is a favorable prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Lorenzo-Pouso","year":"2023","journal-title":"Biology"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/mbo3.1381","article-title":"Dynamic interactions between candida albicans and different streptococcal species in a multispecies oral biofilm","volume":"12","author":"Lueyar","year":"2023","journal-title":"Microbiol. Open"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1038\/nature07205","article-title":"Cancer-related inflammation","volume":"454","author":"Mantovani","year":"2008","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1590\/1807-3107bor-2020.vol34.0113","article-title":"Oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis in diabetic patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"34","author":"Martorano-Fernandes","year":"2020","journal-title":"Braz. Oral. Res."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1111\/omi.12024","article-title":"Fermentative 2-carbon metabolism produces carcinogenic levels of acetaldehyde in candida albicans","volume":"28","author":"Marttila","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mol. Oral. Microbiol."},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1200\/EDBK_389810","article-title":"Current treatment strategies and risk stratification for oral carcinoma","volume":"43","author":"Mohamad","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am. Soc Clin. Oncol. Educ. Book"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/froh.2024.1360340","article-title":"Fungal footprints in oral cancer: Unveiling the oral mycobiome","volume":"5","author":"Monteiro","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Oral. Health"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97273","DOI":"10.18632\/oncotarget.21921","article-title":"Bacteriome and mycobiome associations in oral tongue cancer","volume":"8","author":"Mukherjee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Oncotarget"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1111\/adj.12335","article-title":"Oral candidal carriage in asymptomatic patients","volume":"61","author":"Mun","year":"2016","journal-title":"Aust. Dent. J."},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0033362","article-title":"Evaluation of the role of candida albicans agglutinin-like sequence (als) proteins in human oral epithelial cell interactions","volume":"7","author":"Murciano","year":"2012","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"D259","DOI":"10.1093\/nar\/gky1022","article-title":"The UNITE database for molecular identification of fungi: Handling dark taxa and parallel taxonomic classifications","volume":"47","author":"Nilsson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nucleic Acids Res."},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/app10031099","article-title":"Analyzing the association between candida prevalence, species specificity, and oral squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis\u2014 candida and OSCC","volume":"10","author":"Patil","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl. Sci."},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/20002297.2017.1385369","article-title":"A dysbiotic mycobiome dominated by candida albicans is identified within oral squamous-cell carcinomas","volume":"9","author":"Perera","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Oral. Microbiol."},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jof10050328","article-title":"A systematic review of denture stomatitis: Predisposing factors, clinical features, etiology, and global candida spp. Distribution","volume":"10","author":"Peri\u0107","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Fungi"},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.4103\/jomfp.JOMFP_111_18","article-title":"Evaluation of candidal species among individuals with oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"23","author":"Roy","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Oral. Maxillofac. Pathol."},{"key":"B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0300437","article-title":"Expression of toll-like receptors in oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"19","author":"Rusanen","year":"2024","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"488","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-020-05336-3","article-title":"A comparative study of candida species diversity among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders","volume":"13","author":"Sankari","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Res. Notes"},{"key":"B60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"954","DOI":"10.1593\/neo.08444","article-title":"Farnesol, a fungal quorum-sensing molecule triggers apoptosis in human oral squamous carcinoma cells","volume":"10","author":"Scheper","year":"2008","journal-title":"Neoplasia"},{"key":"B61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1089\/pho.2012.3387","article-title":"Effects of low-level laser irradiation on the pathogenicity of candida albicans  in vitro and in vivo study","volume":"32","author":"Seyedmousavi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Photomed. Laser Surg."},{"key":"B62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2057178X19828229","article-title":"Role of candida infection in the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia: A systematic review of observational studies","volume":"4","author":"Shukla","year":"2019","journal-title":"Transl. Res. Oral. Oncol."},{"key":"B63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4003","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.60.10.4003-4008.1992","article-title":"Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 in candida albicans infection in normal and granulocytopenic mice","volume":"60","author":"Steinshamn","year":"1992","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"B64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/ijdr.ijdr_922_23","article-title":"Candida albicans candidalysin ECE1 gene - a potent virulence factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders","author":"Subramani","year":"2024","journal-title":"Indian J. Dent. Res"},{"key":"B65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2024.1319777","article-title":"Oral microbiota and oral squamous cell carcinoma: a review of their relation and carcinogenic mechanisms","volume":"14","author":"Sukmana","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Oncol."},{"key":"B66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3322\/caac.70090","article-title":"Global cancer statistics 2024: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 34 cancers in 186 countries","volume":"76","author":"Sung","year":"2026","journal-title":"CA. Cancer J. Clin."},{"key":"B67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13040717","article-title":"Candida infections: The role of saliva in oral health\u2014a narrative review","volume":"13","author":"Tamai","year":"2025","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1038\/s41368-023-00249-w","article-title":"Oral squamous cell carcinomas: State of the field and emerging directions","volume":"15","author":"Tan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Oral. Sci."},{"key":"B69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bjc.6601124","article-title":"Expression of E-cadherin, \u03b1-catenin, and \u03b2-catenin in the process of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"89","author":"Tanaka","year":"2003","journal-title":"Br. J. Cancer"},{"key":"B70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canep.2023.102451","article-title":"Candida species as potential risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"86","author":"Tasso","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancer Epidemiol."},{"key":"B71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3897\/mycokeys.10.4852","article-title":"Shotgun metagenomes and multiple primer pair-barcode combinations of amplicons reveal biases in metabarcoding analyses of fungi","volume":"10","author":"Tedersoo","year":"2015","journal-title":"MycoKeys"},{"key":"B72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mrfmmm.2024.111886","article-title":"The mutagenic properties of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde: Reflections on half a century of progress","volume":"830","author":"Thapa","year":"2025","journal-title":"Mutat. Res. Fundam. Mol. Mech. Mutagen."},{"key":"B73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/femspd\/ftw018","article-title":"Pathogenesis of candida albicans biofilm","volume":"74","author":"Tsui","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pathog. Dis."},{"key":"B74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.03144-21","article-title":"Candida albicans enhances the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo","volume":"13","author":"Vadovics","year":"2022","journal-title":"mBio"},{"key":"B75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/sciimmunol.aam8834","article-title":"Oral epithelial cells orchestrate innate type 17 responses to candida albicans through the virulence factor candidalysin","volume":"2","author":"Verma","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. Immunol."},{"key":"B76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0017046","article-title":"From attachment to damage: Defined genes of candida albicans mediate adhesion, invasion and damage during interaction with oral epithelial cells","volume":"6","author":"W\u00e4chtler","year":"2011","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canlet.2024.216814","article-title":"Candida albicans-myeloid cells-T lymphocytes axis in the tumor microenvironment of oral tumor-bearing mice","volume":"588","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cancer Lett."},{"key":"B78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/20002297.2025.2564694","article-title":"Is candida albicans a promoting factor, rather than an inducing factor for oral cancer","volume":"17","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Oral. Microbiol."},{"key":"B79","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.1111\/jop.13298","article-title":"Candida albicans induces upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma","volume":"51","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Oral. Pathol. Med."},{"key":"B80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"781","DOI":"10.1096\/fasebj.13.8.781","article-title":"Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression in tumor invasion","volume":"13","author":"Westermarck","year":"1999","journal-title":"FASEB J."},{"key":"B81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jof11040260","article-title":"The role of oral yeasts in the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A scoping review","volume":"11","author":"Wicaksono","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Fungi"},{"key":"B82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1936","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jis607","article-title":"Candida albicans biofilms do not trigger reactive oxygen species and evade neutrophil killing","volume":"206","author":"Xie","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1873","DOI":"10.1111\/odi.14700","article-title":"The evil companion of OSCC: Candida albicans","volume":"30","author":"Yang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Oral. Dis."},{"key":"B84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"798","DOI":"10.1038\/nrc2734","article-title":"STATs in cancer inflammation and immunity: A leading role for STAT3","volume":"9","author":"Yu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Cancer"},{"key":"B85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"686","DOI":"10.1158\/1940-6207.CAPR-12-0427","article-title":"Lactobacillus salivarius REN inhibits rat oral cancer induced by 4-nitroquioline 1-oxide","volume":"6","author":"Zhang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cancer Prev. Res. (Phila. Pa.)"},{"key":"B86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1422","DOI":"10.1111\/myc.13371","article-title":"Malignant transformation and treatment recommendations of chronic hyperplastic candidiasis\u2014a six\u2010year retrospective cohort study","volume":"64","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mycoses"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1923618\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T11:28:15Z","timestamp":1790594895000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1923618\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"references-count":86,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1923618"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcimb.2026.1923618","relation":{},"ISSN":["2235-2988"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2235-2988","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"article-number":"1923618"}}