口腔潜在恶性疾患（OPMDs）与发展癌症，特别是口腔鳞状细胞癌（OSCC）的升高风险相关。由于现有疗法不能有效预防OPMDs的恶化和复发，停止其恶性进展是至关重要的。免疫检查点作为免疫反应的重要调节因子和适应性免疫抗性的主要原因。虽然确切机制尚不清楚，但已确定OPMDs和OSCC相对于健康口腔黏膜存在多种免疫检查点的表达升高。本综述深入探讨了OPMDs的免疫抑制微环境，OPMDs中不同免疫检查点的表达，如程序死亡受体-1（PD-1）和程序死亡受体-1配体（PD-L1），以及对应抑制剂的潜在应用。此外，还讨论了综合使用免疫检查点抑制剂的协同策略，如cGAS-STING，共刺激分子，癌症疫苗和水凝胶，以便更全面地了解ICIs在口腔癌发生中的作用和应用。版权所有©2023 Elsevier Ltd.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are linked with an escalated risk of developing cancers, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Since prevailing therapies cannot effectively forestall the exacerbation and recurrence of OPMDs, halting their malignant progression is paramount. The immune checkpoint serves as a cardinal regulator of the immune response and the primary cause of adaptive immunological resistance. Although the exact mechanism remains elusive, elevated expression of multiple immune checkpoints in OPMDs and OSCC relative to healthy oral mucosa has been ascertained. This review delves into the immunosuppressive microenvironment of OPMDs, the expression of diverse immune checkpoints such as programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and programmed death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1) in OPMDs, and the potential application of corresponding inhibitors. In addition, synergistic strategies incorporating combined immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as cGAS-STING, costimulatory molecules, cancer vaccines, and hydrogels, are discussed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role and application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in oral carcinogenesis.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.