The role of acetylation of histone H3 and H4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which commonly develops in the tongue, buccal mucosa, and epithelium of the oral cavity, is the result of an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations. In OSCC, other epigenetic alterations, such as histone modification were present. Histone modification can predict the prognosis of various cancers. Actually, the regulation and remodeling of chromatin structure caused by histone acetylation was crucial for the growth of tumors. Histone acetylation has received extensive research in OSCC, particularly histone H3 and H4. Additionally, the bulk of OSCC treatment plans focused on controlling the degree of histone acetylation. The acetylation sites of histone H3 and H4 that evolved in OSCC and the effects of these modifications on histone are therefore summarized below. Furthermore, the treatment of OSCC was implemented from the realization of normalizing histone acetylation levels in OSCC, and we summarized target drugs in the resumption of OSCC acetylation level. This review could help with understanding and treating OSCC.