MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas Arising in Different Sites

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) exhibits variable aggressiveness based on anatomical origin.
• Head and neck cSCC, particularly from the ears and lip, is associated with more aggressive behavior.
• Understanding the molecular underpinnings of cSCC aggressiveness is crucial for targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in cSCC tumors.
• To compare miRNA expression between aggressive head and neck sites and nonaggressive anatomical locations.
• To identify potential miRNA biomarkers associated with cSCC tumor aggressiveness.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of miRNA expression in cSCC tissue samples.
• Sample collection from aggressive (ears/lip), nonaggressive (extremities/trunk) sites, and normal adjacent skin.
• miRNA expression profiling using NanoString nCounter panel and validation via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Main Results:

• Five candidate miRNAs (miR-21, miR-31, let-7g, miR-93, miR-22) were initially identified with differential expression.
• Upon validation, only miR-21 demonstrated significantly higher expression in aggressive cSCC tumors compared to nonaggressive tumors (P = .009).
• No other candidate miRNAs reached statistical significance in differentiating tumor aggressiveness based on anatomical site.

Conclusions:

• cSCC aggressiveness is linked to specific anatomical subsites, notably in the head and neck region.
• miR-21 is a potential biomarker for aggressive cSCC originating from specific head and neck sites.
• Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to explore other miRNAs and validate these findings.