Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

In Vivo CRISPR/Cas9 Screening to Simultaneously Evaluate Gene Function in Mouse Skin and Oral Cavity
07:52

In Vivo CRISPR/Cas9 Screening to Simultaneously Evaluate Gene Function in Mouse Skin and Oral Cavity

Published on: November 2, 2020

Integrative genomic characterization of oral squamous cell carcinoma identifies frequent somatic drivers

Curtis R Pickering1, Jiexin Zhang, Suk Young Yoo

  • 1Departments of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Cancer Discovery
|April 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains poor, prompting genomic analysis for new targets. This study identified key driver pathways and targetable genes, offering hope for novel treatments in this head and neck cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Survival rates for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have stagnated for decades.
  • There is a critical need for novel molecular targets to improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a comprehensive genomic analysis of OSCC.
  • To identify driver pathways and key genes for potential therapeutic intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Integrated analysis of gene expression, copy number, methylation, and point mutations in OSCC.
  • Functional studies investigating the role of NOTCH1 signaling.

Main Results:

  • Identified four major driver pathways (mitogenic signaling, Notch, cell cycle, TP53) and two key genes (FAT1, CASP8).
  • The Notch pathway was defective in 66% of patients; functional NOTCH1 inhibited OSCC cell proliferation.
  • Frequent caspase-8 (CASP8) mutation defines a new OSCC subtype.
  • 80% of patients had alterations in targetable genes.

Conclusions:

  • Genomic alterations in OSCC reveal potential therapeutic targets.
  • Targetable genomic alterations in 80% of patients suggest new treatment possibilities for OSCC.
  • Understanding these molecular drivers can inform future therapeutic strategies for oral cancer.

More Related Videos

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment07:29

Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment

Published on: April 22, 2019

Isolation of Cells with Morphological and Spatial Information from Oral Submucous Fibrosis Samples by Laser Capture Microdissection05:42

Isolation of Cells with Morphological and Spatial Information from Oral Submucous Fibrosis Samples by Laser Capture Microdissection

Published on: August 11, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...