The integrity of the basal stem cell layer is critical for epithelial homoeostasis. In this paper, we review the expression of oral mucosal stem cell markers (OM-SCMs) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to understand the role of basal cells in potentiating cancer stem cell behaviour in OSF. While the loss of basal cell clonogenicity triggers epithelial atrophy in OSF, the transition of the epithelium from atrophic to hyperplastic and eventually neoplastic involves the reactivation of basal stemness. The vacillating expression patterns of OM-SCMs confirm the role of keratins 5, 14, 19, CD44, β1-integrin, p63, sex-determining region Y box (SOX2), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4), c-MYC, B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukaemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi-1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in OSF, OPMDs and OSCC. The downregulation of OM-SCMs in the atrophic epithelium of OSF and their upregulation during malignant transformation are illustrated with relevant literature in this review.

基底干细胞层的完整性对于上皮稳态至关重要。在本文中，我们回顾了口腔黏膜干细胞标志物 (OM-SCMs) 在口腔黏膜下纤维化 (OSF)、口腔潜在恶性疾病 (OPMDs) 和口腔鳞状细胞癌 (OSCC) 中的表达，以了解基底细胞在口腔黏膜下纤维化 (OSF) 中的作用。增强 OSF 中的癌症干细胞行为。虽然基底细胞克隆形成性的丧失会引发 OSF 中的上皮萎缩，但上皮从萎缩到增生并最终形成肿瘤的转变涉及基底干性的重新激活。OM-SCM 的摇摆不定的表达模式证实了角蛋白 5、14、19、CD44、β1-整合素、p63、性别决定区 Y 盒 (SOX2)、八聚体结合转录因子 4 (Oct-4)、c 的作用-我的C，OSF、OPMDs 和 OSCC 中的 B 细胞特异性莫洛尼鼠白血病病毒整合位点 1 (Bmi-1) 和醛脱氢酶 1 (ALDH1)。本综述中的相关文献说明了 OSF 萎缩上皮中 OM-SCMs 的下调及其在恶性转化过程中的上调。