NTRK Gene Expression Analysis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Mexican Population

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Oral cancer is a significant global health concern, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounting for 90% of cases.
• NTRK genes and their receptors are implicated as key regulators in the oncogenesis and progression of various human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression of NTRK genes and Trk receptors in OSCC.
• To analyze the association between NTRK/Trk expression and clinicopathological features in Mexican OSCC patient samples.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of pan-Trk immunoexpression in 95 OSCC cases using a software-assisted method.
• Gene expression analysis via RT-qPCR using the ΔΔCT method.
• Statistical analysis including Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman's correlation tests.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between age and the anatomical site of tumors.
• 42% of cases were pan-Trk positive, with intense immunoexpression observed in poorly differentiated OSCC, correlating with age and gender.
• NTRK2 expression was higher in poorly differentiated OSCC, while NTRK3 expression was significantly higher in well-differentiated cases.

Conclusions:

• NTRK family gene expression is confirmed in OSCC, with distinct expression patterns related to the degree of tumor differentiation.
• Further research into NTRK activation or mutational status could establish their role as therapeutic targets for OSCC.