CXCL8 Drives MMP1 Upregulation and Promotes Metastatic Progression in Oral Cancer Through CXCR1/2-Mediated JAK1/STAT3 Activation

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive malignancy, frequently diagnosed at advanced stages with regional and distant metastases that compromise survival. Identifying key molecular regulators of OSCC progression is essential for developing targeted therapies. Although CXCL8 is elevated in OSCC and linked to tumor progression, its precise pro-metastatic mechanisms and downstream effectors remain unclear. Methods: therapeutic relevance of targeting the CXCL8 pathway. Results: , inhibition of CXCR1/2 reduced CXCL8 and MMP1 expression in primary tumors and cervical lymph nodes, limiting regional metastasis. Conclusion: This study reveals that CXCL8 drives OSCC metastasis via CXCR1/2-mediated JAK1/STAT3 activation leading to MMP1 transcriptional upregulation. Our findings establish CXCL8 as both a prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target, and suggest that targeting this pathway offers significant therapeutic potential for preventing OSCC metastatic progression.