Fibrotic–Angiogenic Signaling Networks in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Pathobiology and Therapeutic Targeting

Abstract

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, progressive fibrotic disorder with significant malignant potential, and limited effective treatments due to an incomplete understanding of its underlying molecular mechanisms. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the key molecular networks involved in OSMF pathogenesis, highlighting the central role of the TGF-β1/Smad, CTGF, and COL1A1 pathways in maintaining fibroblast activation, supporting myofibroblast activity, and promoting pathological collagen accumulation. It also integrates recent findings on how profibrotic signaling interacts with important angiogenic and epithelial growth factors such as VEGF, FGF, and EGF, creating a stage-dependent fibrotic microenvironment. In early OSMF, increased angiogenic signaling, especially through the VEGF/PI3K–Akt pathway, helps maintain blood supply. However, as the disease progresses, TGF-β-induced pathways become dominant, leading to vascular rarefaction, tissue hypoxia, epithelial instability and worsening fibrosis that increases the risk of malignant transformation. By critically appraising molecular, cellular, and translational studies, this review identifies key pathways linking fibrosis, angiogenesis, and epithelial changes in OSMF. It suggests that stage-specific and combined targeting of TGF-β1, CTGF, COL1A1, along with angiogenic and epithelial pathways, may help reverse fibrosis, restore normal tissue perfusion, reduce cancer risk, and support the development of better therapies and biomarkers beyond symptom relief.