Transcriptomic Profiling of OSCC Patients in an Indian Subset

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Tumor-specific biomarkers are crucial for early detection, prognosis, and therapeutic strategy design in cancer.
• Comprehensive transcriptome profiling provides insights into disease mechanisms and potential drug targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel molecular biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
• To explore potential therapeutic targets for improved cancer prognosis and early diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome sequencing was performed on 5 pairs of cancerous and normal oral tissues from OSCC patients.
• Gene expression analysis was conducted using Roche's 454 sequencing platform and CLC Genomics Workbench.
• Gene enrichment and pathway analysis were performed using Topfunn, along with protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction.

Main Results:

• 2082 differentially expressed genes were identified in OSCC tissues, including 1092 upregulated and 273 downregulated genes.
• Pathway analysis revealed significant involvement of TNF signaling, p53 signaling, cGMP-PKG signaling, Apelin signaling, and IL-17 signaling in tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis.
• A PPI network identified 8 key protein interactions.

Conclusions:

• The study identified potential molecular biomarkers (INHBA, FJX1, OLR1, CDK2, IGHM, CXCL11, SH2D5, FABP5) associated with OSCC.
• These biomarkers may serve as therapeutic targets for better prognosis and can enhance early diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.