Research progress on the role of zinc finger proteins in the development of oral cancer

Oral cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the head and neck regions. few patients benefit from current clinical therapy. Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) are one of the largest transcription factor family proteins in the human genome. ZNFs bind to DNA, RNA, and proteins through their unique three-dimensional structure created by zinc ions to regulate gene transcription, RNA packaging, and protein folding. In recent years, the number of studies focused on the functional mechanism of ZNFs in regulating the progression of oral cancer has been increasing, with focuses on: ① ZNF677, ZNF460, ZNF154, ZNF132, ZNF281, Kaiso, and ZNF582, which regulate the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells; ② ZNF750 and PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), which regulate the cell cycle; ③ ZNFs, which are involved in forming the tumor immune microenvironment, such as ZNF71 and myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1). For example, methylation modification modulates the reduction of ZNF677 in oral cancer and reduces the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by inhibiting the protein kinase B/forkhead box O3a (AKT/FOXO3a) pathway; and ZNF460 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by regulating microRNA-320a/alpha thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked (ATRX) axis. In addition, ZNF750 inhibits the growth and metastasis of oral cancer by suppressing cell cycle transcription factor activity. Further, ZNF71 promotes the progression of oral cancer by reducing the infiltration of tumor immune cells. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanism, regulatory meshwork, and pro-tumor and anti-tumor roles of ZNFs in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. Our study may provide a new strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.