Developing the Role of a Multigene Panel in BMSCC: Tumor Microenvironment Impact and Clinical Applications

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (BMSCC) is a significant oral cancer in India, often diagnosed late, leading to high recurrence and mortality.
• Current diagnostic and prognostic methods for BMSCC have limitations, necessitating novel approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a multigene panel for the diagnosis and prognosis of BMSCC.
• To identify key genes associated with BMSCC development and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Gene-expression profiling using microarray analysis on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from BMSCC and normal samples.
• Bioinformatic analysis including gene ontology, pathway analysis, and protein-protein interaction networks.
• Validation using TCGA datasets and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in a clinical cohort.

Main Results:

• A 24-gene panel was identified, with 15 genes showing correlation with poor prognosis in TCGA data.
• Significant alterations in 22 genes were observed in the clinical cohort via qRT-PCR.
• Eleven genes demonstrated >80% diagnostic accuracy, confirmed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed 24-gene panel exhibits significant potential for both the diagnosis and prognosis of BMSCC.
• This multigene signature offers a promising tool for improving early detection and patient management strategies for BMSCC.